Bend, O lofty Tree, thy branches,
Thy too rigid sinews bend;
And awhile the stubborn hardness,
Which thy birth bestow'd, suspend:
And the Limbs of heaven's high Monarch
Gently on thine arms extend.

Thou alone wast counted worthy
This world's ransom to sustain,
That a shipwrecked race for ever
Might a port of refuge gain,
With the sacred Blood anointed
Of the Lamb for sinners slain.
Be there glory everlasting,
To the blessed Trinity;
To the Father, Son, and Spirit,
Might and honour equal be;

Praise His Name in earth and heaven,
Who is ever One and Three.

Amen.

History of the Passion from the Gospels of St. Luke

Now

and St. John.

the feast of unleavened bread, which is called the Pasch, was at hand. And the chief-priests and the scribes sought how they might put Jesus to death: but they feared the people. And Satan entered into Judas who was surnamed Iscariot, one of the twelve. And he went and discoursed with the chief-priests and the magistrates, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised. And he sought opportunity to betray Him in the absence of the multitude.

And the day of the unleavened bread came, on which it was necessary that the pasch should be killed. And when the hour was come, He sat

down and the twelve Apostles with Him. And He said to them: With desire I have desired to eat this

pasch with you before I suffer. For I say to you, that from this time I will not eat it, till it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And having taken the chalice He gave thanks, and said: Take, and divide it among you. For I say to you, that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, till the kingdom of God come. And taking bread He gave thanks, and brake and gave to them, saying: This is my body which is given for you. Do this for a commemoration of me. In like manner the chalice also, after He had supped, saying: This is the chalice, the New Testament in my blood, which shall be shed for you.

And going out [after the supper], He went according to His custom to the mount of Olives. And His disciples also followed Him. And when He was come to the place, He said to them : Pray, lest ye enter into temptation. And He was withdrawn away from them a stone's cast; and kneeling down He prayed, saying: Father, if Thou wilt, remove this chalice from me; but yet not my will, but Thine be done. And there appeared to Him an Angel from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in an agony, He prayed the longer. And His sweat became as drops of blood trickling down upon the ground. And when He rose up from prayer, and was come to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow. And He said to them: Why sleep you? arise, pray, lest you enter into temptation. As He was yet speaking, behold a multitude: and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. And Jesus said to him: Judas, dost thou betray the Son of Man with a kiss?

And they that were about Him, seeing what would follow, said to Him: Lord, shall we strike with the sword? And one of them struck the servant of the high-priest, and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answering said: Suffer ye thus far. And when He had touched his ear, He healed him. And Jesus said to the chief-priests, and magistrates of the temple, and the ancients that were come unto Him; Are you come out, as it were against a thief, with swords and clubs? When I was daily with you in the temple, you did not stretch forth your hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

And apprehending Him, they led Him to the high-priest's house. But Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were sitting about it, Peter was in the midst of them. Whom when a certain servantmaid had seen sitting at the light, and had earnestly beheld him, she said: This man also was with Him. But he denied Him, saying: Woman, I know Him not. And after a little while another seeing him, said: Thou also art one of them. But Peter said: O man, I am not. And after the space as it were of one hour, another certain man affirmed, saying: Of a truth, this man was also with Him; for he is also a Galilean. And Peter said: Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, as he was yet speaking, the cock crew. And the Lord turning

looked on Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said: Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter going out, wept bitterly.

And the men that held Him, mocked Him and struck Him. And they blind-folded Him, and smote His face. And they asked Him, saying:

Prophesy, who is it that struck Thee? And blaspheming, many other things they said against Him. And as soon as it was day, the ancients of the people, and the chief-priests and scribes came together, and they brought Him into their council, saying: If Thou be the Christ, tell us. And He saith to them: If I shall tell you, you will not believe me. And if I shall also ask you, you will not answer me, nor let me go. But hereafter the Son of Man shall be sitting on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all: Art Thou then the Son of God? Who said: You say, that I am. But they said: What need we any farther testimony? For we ourselves have heard it from His own mouth.

And the whole multitude of them rising up, led Him to Pilate. And they began to accuse Him, saying: We have found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, and saying that He is Christ the king. And Pilate asked Him, saying: Art Thou the king of the Jews? But He answering, said: Thou sayest it. And Pilate said to the chief-priests and to the multitudes: I find no cause in this man. But they were more earnest, saying: He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place. But Pilate hearing Galilee, asked if the man were of Galilee ? And when he understood that He was of Herod's jurisdiction he sent Him away to Herod, who was also himself at Jerusalem in those days. And Herod seeing Jesus, was very glad, for he was desirous of a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things of Him, and he hoped to see some sign wrought by Him. And he questioned Him in many words. But He answered him nothing. And the chief-priests and

the scribes stood by, earnestly accusing Him. And Herod with his soldiers set Him at nought: and mocked Him, putting on Him a white garment, and sent Him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate were made friends that same day: for before they were enemies one to another.

And Pilate calling together the chief-priests and the magistrates, and the people, said to them : You have presented unto me this man, as one that perverteth the people, and behold I, having examined Him before you, find no cause in this man touching those things wherein you accuse Him. No, nor Herod neither. For I sent you to him, and behold, nothing worthy of death is done to Him.

I will chastise Him therefore, and release Him. Now of necessity he was to release unto them one upon the feast-day. But the whole multitude together cried out, saying: Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas. Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for a murder, was cast into prison. And Pilate again spoke to them, desiring to release Jesus. But they cried again, saying: Crucify Him, crucify Him. And he said to them the third time: Why, what evil hath this man done? I find no cause of death in Him: I will chastise Him therefore, and let Him go. But they were instant with loud voices requiring that He might be crucified : and their voices prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him who for murder and sedition had been cast into prison, whom they had desired: but Jesus he delivered up to their will.

And as they led Him away, they laid hold of one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country: and they laid the cross on him to carry after Jesus. And there followed Him a great multitude of people, and