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First Prayer

 Oh Jesus Christ! Eternal Sweetness to those who love Thee, joy surpassing
all joy and all desire, Salvation and Hope of all sinners, Who hast proved that Thou hast no
greater desire than to be among men, even assuming human nature at the fullness of time for the
love of men, recall all the sufferings Thou hast endured from the instant of Thy conception, and
especially during Thy Passion, as it was decreed and ordained from all eternity in the Divine
plan.

Remember, oh Lord, that during the Last Supper with Thy disciples, having washed their feet, Thou
gavest them Thy Most Precious Body and Blood, and while at the same time Thou didst sweetly console
them, Thou didst foretell them Thy coming Passion.

Remember the sadness and bitterness which Thou didst experience in Thy Soul as Thou Thyself bore
witness saying: "My Soul is sorrowful even unto death."

Remember all the fear, anguish and pain that Thou didst suffer in Thy delicate Body before the
torment of the Crucifixion, when, after having prayed three times, bathed in a sweat of blood,
Thou wast betrayed by Judas, Thy disciple, arrested by the people of a nation Thou hadst chosen and
elevated, accused by false witnesses, unjustly judged by three judges during the flower of Thy
youth and during the solemn Paschal season.

Remember that Thou wast despoiled of Thy garments and clothed in those of derision; that Thy Face
and Eyes were veiled, that Thou wast buffeted, crowned with thorns, a reed placed in Thy Hands,
that Thou was crushed with blows and overwhelmed with affronts and outrages.