'Yes, my sweet Saviour, I see Thee all covered with wounds; I look into Thy beautiful face; but, O my God, it no longer wears its beautiful appearance, but disfigured and blackened with blood, and bruises, and shameful spittings: There is no beauty in Him, nor comeliness: and we beheld Him and esteemed Him not. But the more I see Thee so disfigured, O my Lord, the more beautiful and lovely dost Thou appear to me. And what are these deformities that I behold but signs of the tenderness of that love which Thou dost bear towards me? I love Thee, my Jesus, thus wounded and torn to pieces for me; would that I could see myself too torn to pieces for Thee, like so many martyrs whose portion this has been!'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori