judas 1

[0-1am]

O my Jesus, it is already midnight... 

But, O sweet Jesus, my Good, what a touching scene I see! 

You first meet the perfidious Judas, who, drawing near You and throwing his arms around your neck, greets You and kisses You. And You, most passionate Love, do not disdain to kiss those infernal lips. You embrace him, and press him to your Heart, wanting to snatch him from hell, and giving him signs of new love. 

My Jesus, how is it possible not to love You? The tenderness of your Love is such that it should snatch every heart to love You. Yet, they do not love You! And You, O my Jesus, in bearing this kiss of Judas, repair for the betrayals, the pretenses, the deceptions under the aspect of friendship and sanctity - especially of priests. 

Your kiss then shows that not to one sinner - provided that he comes humiliated to You - would You refuse your forgiveness.

My most tender Jesus, You now give Yourself into the hands of the enemies, giving them the power to make You suffer whatever they want. I too, O my Jesus, give myself into your hands, that You may do with me freely whatever You best please. And together with You, I want to follow your Will, your reparations, and suffer your pains. 

I want to be always around You, that there may be no offense which I do not repair, no bitterness which I do not soothe, no spit or blows that You receive, which are not followed by one kiss and caress of mine. In the falls You will suffer, my hands will always be ready to help You in order to lift You. So I want to be always with You, O my Jesus, I do not want to leave You alone even for one minute. 

And to be more certain, place me inside of Yourself, and I will be in your mind, in your gazes, in your Heart, and in all of You, so that whatever You do, I may do as well. In this way, I will be able to keep You faithful company, and nothing of your pains will escape me, in order to give You my return of love for everything.

My sweet Good, I will be at your side to defend You, to learn your teachings, to count one by one all of your words. Ah, how sweetly does the word with which You addressed Judas, descend into my heart: "Friend, why have you come?" 

And I feel that You address me too with the same word - not calling me friend, but by the sweet name of child: "Child, why have you come?" - to hear me answer: "Jesus, to love You".

"Why have you come?"

You repeat to me when I wake up in the morning: "Why have you come?"

If I pray: "Why have you come?"

You repeat to me in the Holy Host, if I come to receive You into my heart. 

What a beautiful call for me and for all! 

But how many, to your "Why have you come?"...

answer: "I come to offend You!" 

Others, pretending not to hear You, give themselves to all kinds of sins, and answer your "Why have you come?"... by going to hell! How much compassion I feel for You, O my Jesus! 

I would like to take the very ropes with which your enemies are about to bind You, in order to bind these souls and spare You this sorrow.

[Passie, 0-1u]