Tractatus Prior, Pars Altera, Cap. 9. Contumeliae , illusiones et percussiones capitis Domini lesu.

Tractatus Prior, Pars Altera, Cap. 9. Contumeliae , illusiones et percussiones capitis Domini lesu.

I bless you and give thanks to you, Lord Jesus Christ, for the honor and glory of the saints, for the most serious contempt you endured and the treatment you received when, after the sentence of death was given, you were so indecently insulted by cruel servants with many disgraceful words and were mocked, not to mention being struck repeatedly and harshly in the face and on the head. Alas, your most beautiful face, in which the angels delight to gaze, has been shamefully disfigured by the foulest spittle of the Jews and cruelly struck with heavy blows. Without a doubt, fresh blood has abundantly followed the tears from your eyes. Your beautiful neck is fiercely crushed by the relentless blows of those striking you. O your most clear eyes, which are always open above the just, are veiled in mockery like fools. Your revered head is forcefully struck by the unclean hands of sinners, who are above all creatures, and they insult you with mocking shouts, saying: "Prophesy to us, Christ, who is it that struck you?" Who can hear, Lord, your many injuries without a great groan and pain in the heart? Indeed, the greatness of your patience surpasses human endurance, and it deeply pierces the loving hearts of the wicked with the weight of such great reproaches. You've become a stranger to your friends, abandoned by those who know you; you're mocked and ridiculed by those who hate you for no reason and they gesture at you with their eyes. Alas, Lord God, joy of the heavenly court, how can you allow yourself to be treated like the most foolish of men by the wicked, to be mocked, spat upon, and struck? Ah furentes ludaei, totam noctem illam ludibriis et verberibus in te expenderunt et poenis se tuis satiantes paene incognoscibilem faciem tuam cunctis reddiderunt. Yet your unwavering gentleness and incomparable beauty of soul remained in you, which the wicked torturers could not perceive. Yet, to all the chosen, you are far more beautiful and precious according to the inner vision of the mind, by which you are seen by them, O most high God, having suffered all these things out of your most innocent love. I ask you, most patient Jesus, to teach me to recognize my own worthlessness, especially in light of the great contempt you endured, and to understand how justly I deserve to be despised and rejected by others because of my sins. Have mercy on my imperfections and strengthen my heart to endure the harsh words of others, or when shame is thrust upon me because of my excesses. For you have gently endured many insulting words on behalf of me, a despicable sinner, because you were supremely humble, and in addition, you bore both chains and blows without complaint. O how different I am from you, how far I am from true humility, since I fall into displeasure over a slight injury or an inconsiderate word. And when I ought to give you the greatest thanks for a benefit that is useful to me, instead I find myself impatiently grieving without any fruit. Please, Lord, forgive me for these offenses of mine, and for the times I've frequently offended you with my lightness, nor have I kept my heart in the purity of conscience, nor, as is fitting, have I submitted myself to you and to every rational creature with the reverence I owe. Grant me a healthy sorrow along with a fountain of tears. Grant me the love of discipline in remembrance of your wounds. Grant me the strong palm of patience to endure harsh accusations and to judge myself truly as deserving of contempt. Let the harsh blow to your head be the relief from all my bodily pains, and let the mocking veil of your eyes restrain the curiosity of my own; may the shameful spitting upon your beautiful face suppress every carnal desire within me and teach me not to focus on what shines outwardly, but rather to revere what lies hidden within—the virtues of the soul. May the mockery directed at you drive away all lightness of character and vain frivolity from me, and may the extreme degradation of your dignity extinguish every desire for honor within me and always incline me toward the lowly and humble. Amen.