ON THE WAY OF SORROWS. FOLLOWED BY A PRACTICAL METHOD OF BY F. ALEXIS BULENS, O.S.E., OF THE MONASTERY, WEST GORTON, MANCHESTER. DOULEIAN L. 5 JAN 33 Emprimi permittimus. F. VICTORINUS CARTUYVELS, MIN. PROV. MECHLINIE. ARCHDIOCESE OF WESTMINSTER. Rihil Obstat F. AIDANUS, O.S.F. Emprimatur. HENRICUS EDUARDUS, CARD. ARCH. WESTMONASTERIENSIS. PREFACE. IN publishing this little book, I fear lest I may appear to the world vain and presumptuous. I hope, however, the public will kindly interpret my motives, which are the interests of holy religion. My aim is that of guiding souls, in the simplest possible way, to the knowledge and to the love of Jesus crucified. Deeds are better than words. This is why I am not so particular about the form. Devotion has been aimed at above everything else. Hence, I had no regard to elegant language, or to profound thought. The style is simple, which is, I believe, the language of devotion. I acknowledge my inability to say or to write anything deserving the attention of the public. I only wish to do good. Whether I have succeeded or not, others will decide. Whatever faults or defects may be noticed, I trust to the indulgence of the reader, who will kindly consider my intention. May St. Francis, our Seraphic Father, enkindle in the hearts of the readers of the "Way of Sorrows," the fire of that love with which his own heart glowed towards the sign of our redemption, that made him exclaim: "My God and my All!" I shall then have the delightful feeling arising from the reflection that I have been in some way useful to my neighbour, in a matter of such importance as the welfare of his immortal soul. "BISHOP'S HOUSE, SALFORD, "July 18, 1882. "MY DEAR F. ALEXIS, "I have read through your Treatise on the Way of Sorrows. I congratulate you on having produced a work on the Passion of Our Lord which I feel sure is destined to bear rich and abundant fruit in many souls. "The knowledge and love of Jesus Christ is the only power capable of arresting the fearful progress of infidelity and error in the world. The weapon which wrought such wonders in the hand of the humble St. Francis is within the reach of us all. "Your treatise on the Passion of Our |