the suffering christ 796 so stubborn that we are not at all moved by this, our cruelty and ingratitude, then at least the utterly pitiable sight of Him ought to move us, who was as though having nothing human in Him. “[H]e had no form or comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him” (Is 53:2). [In the sight of ] a bride, “His head” looked once [like] “the finest gold” (Cant 5:11); now it is completely covered with thorns. Once, “[H]is locks” were “wavy, black as a raven,” now they are falling down, torn out, and defiled. Once, “His eyes” were “like doves beside springs of water, bathed in mild, fitly set” (Cant 5:12); now they are full of discharge. Once, “[H]is cheeks” were “like a bed of spices, yielding fragrance” (Cant 5:13). Now, they are pale, heaving spittle, and swollen. “His lips” were “lilies distilling liquid myrrh.” Now, [they are] discolored, darker than coal. Once, “His arms” were “rounded gold, set with jewels,” but now, they are bound by chains of iron. Once, “His body” was “ivory work, encrusted with sapphires” (Cant 5:14); now [it is] cut all over with gashes. Once, “His legs” were “alabaster columns, set upon bases of gold” (Cant 5:15); now, they waver, stagger, dash against the ground. Once, “His appearance” was “like Lebanon, choice as the cedars” (Cant 5:15); now it is like a worm, a source of reproach, and an outcast. Once, he was “altogether desirable,” now totally miserable. “[H]e had no form of comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him” (Is 53:2-3). I plead with you: [Is there] anyone with a heart harder than stone who would not be moved to repentance by this beauty without beauty of the King of Angels and men? Who would not give forth streams of tears from the heart [and] the eyes? 4. Let us turn, then, and gaze upon His most Immaculate Mother. She, as testified by St. Bernard, “seeing Him burdened with such a great cross, the likes of which she never saw before, she was breathless on account of anguish, nor was she able to say a word” (Contemplations, chapt. 77).51 And certainly no one among us could look out toward such a sad spectacle with laughter! Ah, 51 The source of this quote was not able to be found in the works of St. Bernard.
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