THE SEVEN WORDS ON THE CROSS

 PREFACE

 Book I: ON THE FIRST THREE WORDS SPOKEN ON THE CROSS

 Chapter I: The literal explanation of the first Word, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

 Chapter II: The first fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the first Word spoken by Christ on the Cross.

 Chapter III. The second fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the first Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter IV: The literal explanation of the second Word, Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise.

 Chapter V. The first fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the second Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter VI The second fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the second Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter VII. The third fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the second Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter VIII. The literal explanation of the third Word--Behold thy Mother: Behold thy Son.

 Chapter IX. The first fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the third Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter X: The second fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the third Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter XI: The third fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the third Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter XII: The fourth fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the third Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Book II: ON THE LAST FOUR WORDS SPOKEN ON THE CROSS.

 Chapter I. The literal explanation of the fourth Word, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?

 Chapter II: The first fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the fourth word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter III. The second fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the fourth Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter IV. The third fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the fourth Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter V: The fourth fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the fourth Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter VI: The fifth fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the fourth Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter VII: The literal explanation of the fifth Word, I thirst.

 Chapter VIII: The first fruit to be derived from the consideration of the fifth Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter IX: The second fruit to be derived from the consideration of the fifth Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter X: The third fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the fifth Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter XI: The fourth fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the fifth Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter XII: The literal explanation of the sixth Word, It is consummated.

 Chapter XIII: The first fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the sixth Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter XIV. The second fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the sixth Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter XV: The third fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the sixth Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter XVI: The fourth fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the sixth Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter XVII: The fifth fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the sixth Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter XVIII: The sixth fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the sixth Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter XIX: The literal explanation of the seventh Word, Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit.

 Chapter XX: The first fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the seventh Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter XXI: The second fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the seventh Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter XXII: The third fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the seventh Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter XXIII: The fourth fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the seventh Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

 Chapter XXIV: The fifth fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the seventh Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

Chapter XVII: The fifth fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the sixth Word spoken by Christ upon the Cross.

A fifth fruit may be gathered from this word, since we may apply it to the building of the Church which was perfected on the Cross. The Church was formed from the Side of Christ as He was expiring on the Cross, like another Eve formed from the rib of another Adam. And this mystery should teach us to love the Cross, to honour the Cross, and to be closely united to the Cross. For who does not love his mother's birth place? All the faithful have an extraordinary veneration for the holy house of Loreto, because it is the birthplace of the Virgin Mother of God, and there in her virginal womb she conceived Jesus Christ our Lord, as the Angel announced to St. Joseph: "For that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost."[1] So the Holy Roman Church, mindful of the place of her nativity, has the Cross planted everywhere and everywhere exhibited. We are taught to make it on ourselves; we see it in churches and houses; she confers no Sacrament without the Cross, blesses nothing without the sign of the cross; and we, the children of the Church, show our love for the Cross when we patiently endure adversities for the love of our crucified God. This is to glory in the Cross. This is to do what the Apostle did "when they went from the presence of the council rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the Name of Jesus."[2] St. Paul plainly gives us to understand what he means by glorying in the Cross when he says: "We glory also in tribulations, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience trial, and trial hope, and hope confoundeth not, because the charity of God is poured forth in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, Who is given to us."[3] And again in his Epistle to the Galatians: "God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is crucified to me and I to the world."[4] This is indeed the triumph of the Cross, when the world with its pomps and pleasures is dead to the Christian soul that loves Christ crucified, and the soul is dead to the world by loving tribulations and contempt which the world hates, and hating the pleasures of the flesh, and the empty applause of men which the world loves. In this manner is the true servant of God rendered so perfect that it may also be said of him: "It is finished."

ENDNOTES

1. St. Matt. i. 20.

2. Acts v. 41.

3. Rom. v. 3-5.

4. Gal vi. 14.