Tractatus Prior, Pars Prior, Cap. 8. De dolorosa circumcisione Domini lesu. 25

Tractatus Prior, Pars Prior, Cap. 8. De dolorosa circumcisione Domini lesu. 25

I bless you and give thanks to you, Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, author of purity, and guardian of supreme innocence, for the painful circumcision of your most tender flesh according to the tradition of the Mosaic law, by which you made yourself subject to all, even though you were free from sin. I praise you for the first shedding of your innocent blood, which you poured out for us on this day. O most gentle Lamb of God, how great is the testimony of your love, how great the strength of your patience, when your holy and immaculate flesh accepted the punishment of circumcision at such a tender age, a punishment it did not deserve. I have sinned, and you take on the punishment for sin. I was conceived and born in the desire for sin, and you receive the cauterizing punishment without any sin. What in you was flawed or excessive that needed to be removed? But since I couldn't fully satisfy you for my sins, your grace has come to my aid and provided a purifying remedy for my soul through the harshness of your flesh's circumcision. It's not surprising, then, that you were willing to be circumcised, since you were prepared to die for all. You have been given to me entirely, and you have spent yourself entirely in my service. O good and most merciful Jesus, who accepted the circumcision of your innocent body, circumcise all my members with the spiritual stone and order all my actions according to your life. Whatever you find in me that belongs to the flesh, cut it all away and extinguish it. Whatever you find to be superfluous, cut it away, and restrain every vain and trivial thing with the rigor of your discipline, so that, purified from vices within and adorned with the honesty of virtues, I may merit to have a perpetual love for your holy name and a share in your heavenly kingdom.