The Seven Words Spoken by Christ on the Cross

On the First Chree Words spoken on the Cross.

The literal explanation of the first word, “Father, forgive them, Jor they know not what they do.”

CHRIST JESUS, the Word of the Eternal Father, of Whom the Father Himself hath spoken, “Hear ye Him,’ and Who hath said of Himself, “or one ts your master, Christ,’ in order to perform the task He had undertaken, never ceased from instructing us. Not only during His life, but even in the arms of death, from the pulpit of the Cross, He preached to us words few in number, but burning with love, most useful and efficacious, and in every way worthy to be engraven on the heart of every Christian, to be preserved there, meditated upon, and fulfilled literally and in deed. His first word is this, “And Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Which prayer, as though it were altogether new and unheard of before, the Holy Spirit wished to be foretold by the Prophet Isaias in these words: “And He prayed for the evil doers.’ And the petitions of our Lord on the Cross prove how truly the Apostle St.Paul spoke when he said: “Charity seeketh not her own,’ for of the seven words our Redeemer spoke three were for the good of others, three for His own good, and one was common both to Himself and to us. His first care, however, was for others. He thought of Himself last.