17
O Divine Prisoner of the Sanctuary,
Who for love of us and for our salvation,
hast willed not only to enclose Thyself
within the narrow confines of human
nature and then hide Thyself under the
veils of the Sacramental Species but also
to continually live in the tabernaclecell,
give heed to our prayers which
ascend to Thee from within these
barred and walled enclosures, and by
which we desire to make known to
Thee, express to Thee our love as well
as our grief, and the urgent need we
feel for Thee in our distress, especially
in the privation of our freedom, which
causes us so much pain.
To some of us, perhaps a voice in the
depths of conscience which says we are
not guilty, and that it is only through
a deplorable miscarriage of justice that
we are now in this prison. We shall
then find comfort in the remembrance that Thou, the most exalted
and most innocent of all victims, wast also condemned to death.
Or perhaps, on the contrary, we are moved to look downward, to
feel ashamed and to strike our breast. In that case, also, we are not
without a remedy, for we can have recourse to Thy protection, with
the assurance that Thou canst restrain all error, pardon all sin, and
restore Thy Grace generously to all who return to Thee in a spirit of
penance.
Finally, because of so many relapses into sin sometimes even the best
of men have given up all hope in us, and we ourselves hardly know
whence to begin the new road to rehabilitation. All this however notwithstanding,
we can hear in the inner recesses of our souls the whisper
of a word of confidence and consolation; it is Thy word promising to
help us with Thy Light and Grace if we will return to a good life.
Grant, O Lord, that we may never forget that this is a period of trial and
a most favorable opportunity for purifying the soul, for practicing the
highest virtues, and acquiring greater merits! Grant that our saddened
hearts may not be penetrated with hatred, which is a blight to the
human heart, or with distrust, which leaves no room for the feeling
of brotherhood, or with rancor, which is the forerunner of evil designs.