Passion of Christ

I'm continuing with looking at the Anima Christi prayer. If you want a more in-depth theological look at it, I highly recommend Micah's posts over at The Ranter's blog. Here's the full text of the prayer:

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from the side of Christ, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That with thy Saints I may praise Thee
For all eternity
Amen

Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

Perhaps it seems odd to think of being strengthened by contemplating Jesus' suffering.  We get strength not just through the inspiration of knowing how He suffered for us, but because that suffering was efficacious.  His suffering and death truly means something and gives us grace and strength.

Truly, though, when I sat down to write about this line, the thing most on my mind was the whole situation with Fr John Corapi.  I can't say that I ever watched him or listened to him on EWTN, but I'm upset by what's happening.  Like many others out there, I can't help thinking of St Padre Pio and how he was literally strengthened by the passion of Christ, even through all his trials.  St Padre Pio, pray for him and for all priests; St Jean-Baptiste Vianney, pray for priests.  Passion of Christ, strengthen me, and all of us.