Tractatus Prior, Pars Altera, Cap. 8. Deductio Domini lesu ab Anna ad Caipham sacerdotem et statio eius coram eo.

Tractatus Prior, Pars Altera, Cap. 8. Deductio Domini lesu ab Anna ad Caipham sacerdotem et statio eius coram eo.

I bless you and give thanks to you, Lord Jesus Christ, supreme priest and eternal pontiff, for your humble journey from the house of Annas to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and elders gathered to conspire against you. Oh, how filled with wretched joy they are, when they see you bound being led to them, whom they had long desired to seize in body but could not hold, because your hour had not yet come. But this is their hour, and the power of darkness has been permissively granted to them by God, so that they may fulfill the hatred conceived over a long time and openly bring to fruition their long-standing malice against you for glory, but for the salvation of the faithful, and for the eternal punishment of the unbelievers. I praise and glorify you, reverend Jesus, for your humble stance before the high priest and all the elders of the people, as they brazenly gazed upon your lovely face, where you were gravely accused by the most deceitful witnesses, interrogated by the high priest with many questions, and strictly sworn in for a truthful response, falsely accused of blasphemy, and finally condemned to death by all with loud voices. I praise and honor you, most noble Jesus, for every injury and false accusation laid against you, for your humble reverence that you maintained in silence for so long amid the many wicked words of your accusers, to whom you showed no sign of complaint or murmur, but instead offered an example of supreme gentleness. Look now with serious consideration, devoted lover of Christ, at how much the humble suffering of Jesus shines forth in excellence. Look how unworthy he is to hear the insults, whom the heavenly hosts praise. For a true response, he is charged with the guilt of blasphemy. But all those who speak this way about Christ become blasphemers and incur a very serious crime. Indeed, because they do not believe in Jesus, the Son of God, they commit every kind of wickedness with a mad mind against him. But He endures and remains silent, and by doing so, He conquers and triumphs, while He suffers to be trampled by the wicked. Therefore, you, faithful soul, stop complaining about the insults directed at you, and don’t seek revenge against your adversaries. Bear with and humble yourself under the weight of temporal tribulations, and don't wish to prosper in this world while Christ chooses contempt. Be ashamed of your pride in honors, in high places, in pomp, and in fine clothing, especially when you consider Christ, who became poor for our sake. It's scandalous to seek human favors and to desire earthly pleasures while preferring everything contrary to Christ. O most reverend Jesus, so beautiful and gentle, grant me, a wretched sinner, the grace I long for from your mercy, and teach me through your vivid examples not to be afraid of the insults and terrors of the wicked, and not to be disturbed by accusations that are not rightly made, but to gladly ask for forgiveness for the wrongs I have committed, and to submit to you and my superiors with total humility, so that I may deserve to receive more abundantly the gifts of your mercy and to give you thanks with greater devotion for what I have received.