dumb man not opening his mouth, and that hath no reproofs in his mouth" (a). But, my Jesus, there were very grave reasons why Thou shouldst speak in thy. own defence; for, (1.) The falsehood of your accusers was evident, "for the chief priests and the whole council sought witness against Jesus, that they might put Him to death; and they found not, whereas many false witnesses had come in "(b). (2.) Next, the discrepancy in the evidence was notorious, for we read "that their witnesses did not agree" (c). (3.) The judge himself had to acknowledge your innocence, saying: "I find no cause in this Man" (d). (4.)For he was quite aware of the jealousy of the Jews," For he knew that the chief priests had delivered Him up out of envy" (e). (5.) Yet his eagerness for our salvation prevailed, "and from thenceforth Pilate sought to release Him". But, nevertheless, (O astounding humility!) "He answered Him never a word". O holy angels! the most innocent Jesus is accused of so many enormous crimes, before so many judges, in the sight of the entire world. He has such immense reputation; and yet, at this moment, imminent danger hangs above His head; and the scourges, the thorns, the nails, and the Cross surround Him. Yet, notwithstanding all this, He is silent. "But Jesus held his peace" (f). But every right demands that we should defend our reputation and life? The falsehood of the accusations against Jesus is so evident-the character of His accusers (a) Ps. xxxvii. 14, 15. (b) Matt. xxvi. 60. stands out in such clear and luminous colours-that He has merely to open His lips in order to confound them. Ah! but by the dishonours heaped upon Himself Jesus wished to atone for your sins-for your pride-and therefore it is that we find it recorded of Him in Holy Writ: "But Jesus held his peace". THIRD POINT. 1. Detest the habit of defending yourself with impatience when you have to endure similar afflic tions. Come hither, look upon Jesus, learn, and be silent. What do you presume to compare your own innocence with that of Jesus; the accusations levelled against you, with those crushing ones heaped upon Jesus; the motives you have for self-defence with those which Jesus had? Contrast the losses which you may have to fear, with the calamities which you have seen pouring down upon Him; yet He is silent, and you? Ah! let your querulous speech put you to the blush. 2. Examine, moreover, of what great advantage it will be to yourself to keep silent; with how many graces God will reward your silence, even in this life; with what tenderness He will lift you up on the last day; to what happiness He will conduct you in heaven! Do you fancy that S. John of the Cross, S. Peter the Martyr, S. Francis Regis, S. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi, S. Francis de Sales, and so many other saints, now regret having in life endured in silence so many calumnies? . 3. Consider that your complaints, your excuses, your mad anxiety to vindicate your reputation, serve not unfrequently, but to increase your disgrace; for, while, by manifesting this impatience, you become regarded with a feeling of disesteem by others, you at the same time, lose the reputation of virtue, the merit of silence, peace of soul, and an increase of glory. 4. Abhor that ambitious pride which causes you to covet honours so eagerly, while you dread contempt. What! I receive a blow-He is insulted and mocked, as though He were the very vilest of men; finally, He is thought more worthy of death than a notorious malefactor; and we, worms of the earth, slaves of sin, cannot endure to be touched by a single reproachful word; we, at the slightest offence, burst out into expressions of rage and indignation; and, even when the veriest trifles are at stake, we will not suffer anyone to be placed before us. Ah! let us blush for so much pride, and, taught by the example of Jesus Christ, let us learn to endure insult and derision in peace and silence. AFFECTIONS. O my Jesus! all bruised and beaten as thou art, thus clothed all over with insults, made the last of men and the outcast of the people, I adore thee as my Lord and my God, my King and my Captain. For so long a period have my eyes been accustomed to behold Thee in this abject condition, that, on this account, I the more closely recognise in Thee the Divinity, and the more affectionately do I love thy sacred humanity. For my single sake, it was lowered to the dishonour of such infamy; for my sake did it die amidst so great agonies. O love! O love! For pity sake, O Eternal Father, why didst Thou permit that thy Eternal Son should annihilate Himself so for to me were those insults due to me, who have sinned, and by my pride have so often and so grievously offended thy Infinite Majesty. Upon me, then, let insults and ignominy rain down, and spend the fury of their violence-" What evil hath this man done" (a) Ah! I understand it all. You, my Jesus, wished, even at so great a price, to teach me to trample on my pride, and to love humility. Yes, I love it, and shall ever continue to love it. Yes, I shall ever account blessed the poor in spirit, and all such as are despised. Yes I regard as vanities, the honours, the fame, and the glory of all human greatness. And, therefore, do Thou, 0 my Jesus, receive the protestations of my repentance, by which I am intensely grieved because I allowed my heart to fill with pride, for having coveted honours, and for having abhorred humiliations. Henceforward I shall bear every, every injury, every calumny, every insult-not alone in silence, but with a holy joy. "I will make myself meaner than I have done and I will be little in mine own eyes" (b). Do Thou grant me the grace: and since Thou knowest my weakness do Thou encourage me, and make me brave to conquer the assaults of my pride. COMPENDIUM. I. Consider the insults which Jesus suffered. (1.) He received a blow. Who received it? . . . . By whom was it inflicted? . ... In what manner! (a) Luke xxiii. 22. (b) 2 Reg. vi. 22. (2.) He was scoffed at. . . . Who?. . . . By whom?. in what manner? (3.) He was held of less account than Barabbas. Who was? God! A cut-throat who And in comparison with whom? lay under sentence of death! He was defamed with calumnies of the blackest hue, being accused as a blasphemer, one possessed of the devil, and a subverter of the public order. II. Admire the silence with which Jesus endured all these insults. He might have defended himself, and he had sufficiently grave reasons for doing so. A single word would have saved Him-nay more, would have secured him a triumph over his enemies, and, instead of infamy, he would have reaped immense glory. Nevertheless Jesus is silent. III. Observe how much your conduct is opposed to this. Jesus is silent when there is every reason why He should speak; you speak even when you ought to be silent. (2.) Reflect on the advantages you will reap by bearing with injuries in silence; and (3.) The losses you will sustain by complaining of them. (4.) Detest your pride, which leads you to desire honours, and to fly contempt, and learn from the example of Jesus Christ the greatest of the virtues-humility. LECTURE. On the fruit of the Exercises of this Day. In the third week of the exercises (to which this day corresponds), "We should renew and confirm the choice of a better life, which we have already made, and our desire to serve God henceforward |