Lord, never was there any magnet so powerful in attracting hard iron to itself, as thy love-fraught passion, thus presented to my soul, is powerful to unite to itself all hearts. Alas! Thou loving Lord, draw me now by means of love and sorrow away from this world to thee on thy cross, fulfill in me the closest resemblance to thy cross, so that my soul may enjoy thee in thy highest glory.

A medieval friar reflects on the death of Christ on the cross.