judas 2

But, again, I hear your most tender voice... 

which says, as You go to meet your enemies: 

"Who are you looking for?" 

And they answer: "Jesus the Nazarene". 

And You, to them: "It is I". 

With only this word You say everything. And You let Yourself be known for who You are. So much so, that the enemies tremble and fall to the ground, as though dead.

And You, Love which has no equal, repeating again "It is I"... 

call them back to life. 

And You give Yourself, on your ówn... 

into the power of the enemies. 

Perfidious and ungrateful... 

instead of falling to your feet, humbled and palpitating, to ask for your forgiveness, taking advantage of your goodness, and despising your graces and prodigies, they lay hands on You, they bind You with ropes and chains, they grip You, they throw You to the ground, they trample upon You, they tear your hair. 

And You, with unheard-of patience, remain silent. 

Suffering and repairing for the offenses... 

of those who - in spite of miracles - 

do not surrender to your Grace. 

And become more obstinate.

-

With those ropes and chains... 

You impetrate from the Father the grace...

to snap the chains of our sins, and You bind us... 

with the sweet chain of Love. 

And, lovingly, You correct Peter... 

who wants to defend You to the point of cutting off the ear of Malchus. 

With this, You intend to repair for the good works...

which are not done with holy prudence... 

or which fall into sin because of excessive zeal.

My most patient Jesus, it seems that these ropes and chains give something more beautiful to your Divine Person: your forehead becomes more majestic, so much so, as to draw the attention of your enemies themselves. 

Your eyes blaze with more light. Your divine Face assumes a supreme peace and sweetness, such as to enamor your very executioners. With your sweet and penetrating accents, though few, You make them tremble. So much so, that if they dare to offend You, it is because You Yourself allow them to do so.

Oh chained and bound Love, can You ever allow Yourself to be bound for me, making a greater display of your love toward me, while I, your little child, remain without chains? No, no - rather, with your Most Holy hands, bind me with your own ropes and chains. 

Therefore I beg You, as I kiss your divine forehead, to bind all of my thoughts, my eyes, my ears, my tongue, my heart, my affections, and all of me! And together with me, bind all creatures, so that, in feeling the sweetnesses of your loving chains, they may never again dare to offend You. 

[Passie, 0-1u]