Look down upon me, good and gentle
Jesus (En
ego, o bone et dulcissime Iesu)
Look
down upon me, good and gentle Jesus, while before your face I humbly kneel, and
with burning soul pray and beseech you to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments
of faith, hope and charity, true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of
amendment, while I contemplate with great love and tender pity your five
wounds, pondering over them within me, calling to mind the words which David,
your prophet, said of you, my good Jesus: “They have pierced my hands and my
feet; they have numbered all my bones” (Ps 21,17-18).
How
to Approach Christ’s Passion
Listen to
the Lord’s appeal: In me, I want you to see your own body, your members, your
heart, your bones, your blood. You may fear what is divine, but why not love
what is human? You may run away from me as the Lord, but why not run to me as
your father?
Perhaps
you are filled with shame for causing my bitter passion. Do not be afraid. This
cross inflicts a mortal injury, not on me, but on death. These nails no longer
pain me, but only deepen your love for me. I do not cry out because of these
wounds, but through them I draw you into my heart.
My body
was stretched on the cross as a symbol, not of how much I suffered, but of my
all-embracing love. I count it no loss to shed my blood: it is the price I have
paid for your ransom. Come, then, return to me and learn to know me as your father,
who repays good for evil, love for injury, and boundless charity for piercing
wounds.
St. Peter
Chrysologus
A plenary indulgence
is granted on each Friday of Lent and Passiontide to the faithful, who after Communion
piously recite prayer before an image of Christ crucified; on other days
indulgence is partial.