729 the fifth word (Mt 27:34). He, who for so long was tormented by another thirst, did not wish to drink at all. For He who did not eat or drink for forty days did not desire water. The devout Blosius rightly concludes: “He had a different thirst, namely, for suffering more and for demonstrating His love for us more clearly.”94 Here, I will stop briefly and ask the most learned students of nature: What do deer do when struck by a poisoned arrow or when bitten by a serpent? Solinus alone responds for all of them, telling me: “They hurry athirst to the fount of the waters, and they vomit out the venom into those purest waters.” In that way, they extinguish the thirst produced by the venom with the waters, and they are freed from the venom [that was] swallowed. Now back to Jesus, whom, (in my opinion) the Sacred Scriptures call the Deer. For thus boasts the holy Bride, proud of his speed and agility: “My beloved is like a gazelle, or a young stag” (Cant 2:9). The heavenly Deer, struck with two arrows — the arrow of love for humans and the arrow poisoned with our sins — sustained lesser injuries from the sharp tips of the nails. For He assures [us] that the great thirst tortures Him [more], when He cries out while nailed to the Cross: “I thirst.” Ah! For what do You thirst, my Lord, for what do You thirst? He answers through the lips of St. Augustine: “My thirst is for your salvation; My thirst is for your redemption; I thirst for your faith,”95 O mortals! I thirst for your conversion, O sinners! Ah! Pious souls as well as the wicked ones: Cool the thirst of your Redeemer with the sweetest tears. This is the most appropriate drink for this thirst. This fount greatly desires to reach this Deer, pierced with the most poisonous arrows of your sins. Repent, therefore; be converted to Him through fasting, weeping, beating of your chests, and pouring out before Him the entire ocean of tears, which are beneficial to you and most desired by Him. Give drink to the thirsty, give the drink of tears 94 Cf. Blosius, Ludovicus, Praeclara Admodum Dominicae Passionis Explicatio, in D. Ludovici Blosi Abbatis Laetiensis…Opera…, Coloniae 1606, p. 519. 95 The source of this text was not able to be found.
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