681 introduction seven last statements of Eternal Wisdom — Jesus on the Cross. He considered the following topics: — Love of enemies and the forgiveness of all wrongs “so that we might in this most certain way receive the forgiveness and remission of our sins” (The First Word: Forgiveness Is Obtained by Forgiveness); — Penance following the example of the good thief (The Second Word: Heaven Is Attained by Penance); — Recourse to the sanctuary, shelter, safety, or protection accorded by Mary (The Third Word: The Most Clement Virgin Mary Is the Mother of Sinners. The Savior Entrusted Them to Her as Sons in the Person of John); — Prayer that restores the sinner’s unity with God (The Fourth Word: The Power of Prayer Restores the Sinner to Communion with God); — The total transformation of the sinners’ mind and conduct (The Fifth Word: The Thirst for [the Salvation of ] Souls, Which Torments Christ, Mightily Contributes to Their Conversion); — Perseverance in continuous conversion (The Sixth Word: Penance Is Most Perfect When It Is Consummated with Life Itself); — Constant union with Christ as the means to avoid falling back into sinfulness (The Seventh Word: We Must Frequently Entrust Our Souls to Christ the Lord, Lest We Desire to Fall Often Again and Again). On the whole, it is possible to say that the author of OC intended this ascetic teaching “in such a way that it might both bring forth repentance and produce an amendment of life” (The First Word). He emphasized that sinners should not despair, because the Merciful God always provides repentant sinners with the means to attain salvation. 3. Sources of Preaching and Previous Editions The author wrote in a stately and ornate style proper to the 17th-century Baroque Period. Each meditation was accompanied by numerous quotes from the Scriptures and their commentators
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