‘THE PASSION AND CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE SEVEN LAST WORDS FROM THE CROSS’ By St. ALPHONSUS …
[Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori – XVII – XVIII Century AD; born: Marianella, Kingdom of Naples/died: Pagani, Kingdom of Naples; (aged 90); spiritual writer, composer, musician, artist, poet, lawyer, scholastic philosopher, and theologian, Founder, Bishop, Doctor of the Church]
VII. THE SEVEN WORDS SPOKEN BY JESUS CHRIST ON THE CROSS
1. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Lk 23:34)
O loving tenderness of Jesus towards men! St. Augustine says that when the Savior was injured by his enemies, he besought pardon for them; for he thought not so much of the injuries he received from them, and the [280] death they inflicted upon him, as upon the love which brought him to die for them.
But some may say, Why did Jesus pray to the Father to pardon them, when he himself could have forgiven their injuries? St. Bernard replies that he prayed to the Father, not because he could not himself forgive them, but that he might teach us to pray for them that persecute us. The holy abbot …More
"But some may say, Why did Jesus pray to the Father to pardon them, when he himself could have forgiven their injuries? St. Bernard replies that he prayed to the Father, not because he could not himself forgive them, but that he might teach us to pray for them that persecute us. The holy abbot says also in another place: "O wonderful thing! He cries, Forgive; they cry, Crucify."