Tractatus Prior, Pars Altera, Cap. 19. De pia supplicatione lesu pro inimicis.

Tractatus Prior, Pars Altera, Cap. 19. De pia supplicatione lesu pro inimicis.

I bless you and give thanks to you, Lord Jesus Christ, fountain of piety and sweetness, for your most perfect love and most devoted prayer for your enemies and those who crucified you; for you, with your arms outstretched on the cross, pleaded for their forgiveness and graciously excused their transgressions, saying: 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'^✦ O Word of all sweetness and grace, You are able to soften the hardness of any sinner and lead them to repentance. O sweetest Jesus, how abundant you are in forgiving, how easy you are to appease, how kind you are in showing mercy. O how great is the multitude of your sweetness, Lord, for all who love you! You have shown such kindness to your raging enemies, for even while suspended on the highest cross, you were not stirred to indignation against your crucifiers, so that you might take vengeance on those who afflicted you, nor did you pray that the earth would swallow them alive, or that fire from heaven would come down in an instant to consume the wicked. Instead, you poured out the sweetest word of love like the saving dew of heaven upon your cruelest enemies, saying: "Father, forgive them, etc." In this, your extraordinary love appeared with indescribable gentleness, which could neither be overcome nor cease from humble prayer. They shouted, "Crucify him, crucify him!" And you say, "Father, forgive them." They nailed Him to the cross, and you excuse their most wicked excesses by saying, 'Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing.'^✦ O how wonderful is your mercy, Christ! But alas, the stubbornness of the people, who are not moved by such loving words. You grieve more over their blind wickedness than over your own injury; and the enormity of their crimes weighs on you more than the pain of all the wounds inflicted on you. They did whatever wickedness they could; you. You have given them back whatever good you could offer them. It was truly good and right to pray for such wicked people, so that they might turn away from their evil deeds and recognize you as the true Son of God who came in the flesh. Thus, the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which is truly read concerning you: 'He himself bore the sins of many and prayed for the transgressors, so that they would not perish.'^✦ Who would despair of forgiveness for their sins when those who crucified the giver of forgiveness have experienced such great kindness? Don't lose hope, my soul, even if you're guilty of many sins; although you've been caught up in various passions and attacked by great temptations, you still have hope for a miserable life; the depths of mercy are open, and the cross, the nails, the spear, and all the red wounds of Jesus stand as witnesses. Enter, enter into the deep wounds of the Crucified; kiss the places of His wounds, embrace the tree of life with loving arms, hold fast to the most certain sign of your salvation, Jesus, who bore the burden on the cross. Adore Him with a devoted mind; commit yourself to Him faithfully, and resign yourself entirely to Him. For the one who was so compassionate to his enemies will surely be very merciful to you, grieving over your sins. If you want to be heard more quickly, if you desire to obtain the grace of the Redeemer and to receive full mercy, forgive your brother who has sinned against you with a pure heart. Forgive others in small matters, so that God may forgive you in many; and pray for their salvation just as you do for your own. By doing this, you'll find grace and be a son of the Most High, following Jesus, who commanded us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Moreover, you will build confidence for yourself in the course of life if you learn to patiently forgive all injustices and pour out a devout prayer for your debtors. This sacred prayer for enemies has consecrated the apostles in glory, honored the martyrs, exalted the confessors, adorned the virgins, and made all the saints conformed to Christ worthy of eternal life. I pray to you, most merciful Lord Jesus, who deigned to pray for your enemies out of love, that you would also deign to ask the Father with similar fervent love for me, so that he may fully forgive me all my sins and mercifully absolve me from the punishments I have deserved. Grant me a good and steadfast confidence in your mercy, so that I may not fall into despair because of the weight of my sins, but rather reflect with a peaceful mind, knowing that you came into this world to save sinners and willingly chose to suffer, be crucified, and die for the wicked. May your heartfelt prayer, poured out on the cross for your enemies, bring salvation to my soul; and grant me great hope for forgiveness through it, so that what I cannot achieve by my own merits, I may effectively obtain through your most holy intercession. Grant me the freedom and security to take refuge under the shadow of your wings, and protect me with the invincible sign of the holy cross from all fear of the ancient enemy. Spread, I pray, the broadest branches of your arms over me to wrap me under your cross, so that my needy and sorrowful soul may not fear or despair, no matter what hour it is called from this world; and receive me, a wretched sinner, trusting not in my own actions, but in your mercy.