Introduction: These little "Flowers of the Passion" are a collection of devout thoughts and sentiments gathered mostly from occasional letters of that great lover of Jesus crucified, St. Paul of the Cross. They are a treasure to humble and simple souls, and show what sweetness, comfort, graces, and virtues can be drawn from devout meditation on the Passion and death of Jesus Christ. It is only from constant and loving reflection on the love shown towards us, and the bright examples of every virtue given us by our suffering Lord, that such beautiful and affecting sentiments could so spontaneously spring.

To enjoy, therefore, all the benefits to be derived from these exquisite little blossoms of love, we should imitate St. Paul of the Cross, and meditate in our own humble way on the mysteries of the sacred Passion of Our Lord. Wherefore, to insure greater utility to the devout reader of these flowerets, we subjoin in an appendix a short instruction on the most easy and profitable method of meditating on the sufferings of Jesus Christ, Who became an outcast and a reproach among His people in order to atone for our sins, to reveal His love for us, and to give us a bright example of every virtue. "Christ suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow His steps." (1 Peter ii. 21.)

The Passion of Christ is the door which opens into the delicious pastures of the soul. Our divine Saviour has said: "I am the door. By Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." (John x. 9.)

Imagine yourself seriously indisposed, and that I, who love you tenderly, call to see you. After saying a few words of sympathy and consolation, I should certainly look at you with compassion and, through love of you, make your sufferings my own. Thus when we meditate on the Passion of Christ, seeing Him in such affliction, we ought to compassionate Him, and then to remain looking upon Him in so great torments, and, through compassionate love, make His sufferings our own.--Page 11 - 12

Introduction . . . . . . . . 3
Preface . . . . . . . . 5
The Passion and the Way of Perfection . . . . . . . . 11
The Passion and the Crucifix . . . . . . . . 21
The Passion and Spiritual Infancy . . . . . . . . 38
The Passion and the Virgin Mary . . . . . . . . 42
The Passion and Prayer . . . . . . . . 49
The Passion and Prayer (Continued) . . . . . . . . 58
The Passion and the Presence of God . . . . . . 67
The Passion and Sin . . . . . . . . 70
The Passion and Heaven . . . . . . . . 73
The Passion and Faith . . . . . . . . 76
The Passion and Hope . . . . . . . . 80
The Passion and Charity towards God . . . . . 83
The Passion and Love of our Neighbor . . . . 90
The Passion and Poverty . . . . . . . . 94
The Passion and Chastity . . . . . . . . 96
The Passion and Obedience . . . 100
The Passion and Mortification . . . . . . . . 104
The Passion and Humility . . . . . . . . 107
The Passion and the Holy Will of God . . . . . . . . 120
The Passion and Confidence in God . . . . . . . . 129
The Passion and Sufferings . . . . . . . . 135
The Passion and the Trials of the Soul . . . . . . . . 144
The Passion and Sickness . . . . . . . . 159
The Passion and Perfect Detachment . . . . . . . . 168
The Passion and the Sacred Heart of Jesus . . . . . . 171
The Passion and Peace of Heart . . . . . . . . 174
The Passion and Illusions . . . . . . . . 178
The Passion and the Practices of a Christian Life . . . . . . . . 183
The Passion and the Rule of Life . . . . . . . . 189
Summary of Christian Perfection . . . . . . . . 191
Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Method of Meditating . . . . . . . . 207
Outlines of Some Meditations on the Passion . . . . . . . . 212
Short Method of Reciting the Five Wounds of Jesus . . . . . . 230
Chaplet or Beads of the Seven Dolors . . . . . . . . 235
The Way of the Cross before a Crucifix . . . . . . . . 238
Ejaculations . . . . . . . . 240
Prayer before a Crucifix . . . . . . . . 240