examination of the heart 538 2. Consider that the mind of your Savior was occupied for the next hour with a reflection on the evils and misfortunes of all men. For He pictured in His most perceptive intellect all the afflictions of all mankind: their anguishes, pains, sicknesses, torments, persecutions, oppressions, and every kind of misfortune by which they would ever be harassed. When He grasped them with His keen mind, He was stung by a far sharper paroxysm of pain than the one that pierces a person at the sight of a friend’s unfortunate circumstances, or parents at the sight of their children’s bad fortune or hardships. This is what Isaiah says clearly in the prophecy: “Surely [H]e hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows” (Is 53:4) [DRB]. Finally, He saw in His mind the evil deeds of all men who had lived in the world before, during, and after His time there. As He offered up to the Heavenly Father to suffer and atone for them, He was so violently shaken at their depravity that the bloody sweat poured out of all His pores, flowing all the way down to the ground (cf. Lk 22:44). [f.176v] 3. Consider most attentively the time, place, manner, and other circumstances of Jesus’ prayer. He remained praying with great resignation on a very quiet night, on a remote hill away from all witnesses, kneeling or perhaps deeply bowing, if not prostrating, for nearly three hours. Now, awaken your feelings of gratitude, bearing in mind He who was praying and for whom He prayed. Then, learn to fly to the anchor of prayer, as the storms of temptations or other troubles, or difficult undertakings assail you. Finally, you shall always have your will in conformity with the divine will by saying: “Not mine, but [Y]our will be done” (cf. Lk 22:42). 2. MONDAY EVENING On the certainty of death, yet the uncertainty as to its time, place, and manner. 1. Consider that every man was created from perishable matter; and therefore, he shall decompose. Therefore we are called
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