Flower of Devotion

St. Mechtilde once said to the Lord Jesus on Good Friday:

“O my most beloved God! How can a man repay you for wanting to be arrested and bound on that day for his salvation? The Lord answered, “In such a way that he voluntarily and willingly allows himself to be bound by the bonds of true obedience to me.”
The saint went on to say: “What merciful thing should a man do to you for having been polluted by the unclean spitting of the Jews, and beaten by their merciless blows?” The Lord answered, “Verily I say unto thee, that all who despise their superiors spit upon My Face. So whoever wants to repay me this mockery, let him honor his superiors!”
Then said the saint, “What thanksgiving will you receive, O most gracious one, for the blows you have received?” The Lord answered, “That man may strictly observe the rules and regulations laid down for him.”
The saint asked: “What glory is to be given to You, O Most Faithful, for the pain You suffered when a crown of thorns was pressed on Your Divine Head in such a way that Your lovely Face, at which the angels desire to look, was covered with all Your Most Precious Blood, pink?” The Lord answered, “This glory, that a man, if he is tormented by temptation, will resist it courageously with all his might, and as many temptations as he conquers in My name, so many precious jewels he will add to My crown.”
The saint went on to ask: “What is your recompense, my wisest Master, for being mocked as a madman in a white robe?” The Lord answered, “That a man should seek neither adornment nor valuables in his clothing, but only that which is most necessary.”
The saint went on to ask: “And what thanksgiving is to be given to you, O one of my Hearts, for having been scourged so inhumanly?” The Lord answered, “That by perfect faithfulness and patience the soul may endure with me continually in joyful things, but also in adversity.”
The saint said: “What, O dearest beloved, wilt thou accept for the fact that Thy feet have been nailed to the Cross?” The Lord answered, “That man may pour out all his desires in Me, and if he cannot long for Me, that he may at least have the will to possess that lust, for I accept the will for the deed.”
Then she asked the saint: “And what shall we do you for the fact that you have been nailed to the Cross with your hands?” The Lord answered, “Train yourselves in all good works, and protect yourselves from all evil deeds for Me.”
The saint asked: “O one sweetness, what shall we give thanks to You for the wounds of love which You received on the Cross for men, when Your invincible attachment pierced Your honey-flowing Heart with an arrow of love, and Blood and water flowed from Him for remedy; when, thus conquered by the greatness of love for Thy Bride, Holy Church, thou hast died the death of love?” The Lord answered, “I require this thanksgiving, that man may make his whole will equal to my will, and that my will may always be acceptable to him above all things.”
Then the Lord said to St. Mechtilde: “Truly I say to you, if anyone sheds tears out of devotion to My Passion, I will accept it as if he had suffered for Me.” The saint said, “Ah, my Lord! By what devotion can I come to these tears?” The Lord answered, “I will teach you this:
First, consider with what kindness and love I have gone to meet My enemies when they seekarmed with swords and clubs to seize Me and lead Me to death as a thief and a villain. For I drew near to them as a mother to my child, to save them from the jaws of the wolf.
Secondly, when they beat Me, with each blow I gave a sweet kiss to those souls who would be saved by My Passion on the day of judgment.
Thirdly, when they scourged Me violently, I prayed so fervently to the heavenly Father for them that many of them were converted.
Fourthly, when they pressed My crown of thorns on their heads, as many jewels as they put on My head, I placed on their crown.
Fifthly, when they nailed Me to the Cross and stretched out all My limbs, so that My bones and entrails could be numbered, I drew to Myself with all the strength of My divine power the souls of all who had been chosen for eternal life, as I foretold: “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all things to Myself” (John 12:32).
Sixthly, when they had publicly opened My side with a spear, I gave to those who had drunk the drink of death through Adam the drink of life from My Heart, that they might all become children of eternal life.”