Saint Francis Speaks on the Passion of Christ

And as His Passion was near, He celebrated the Passover with his disciples and, taking bread, gave thanks, blessed and broke it, saying: Take and eat: This is My Body. (Mt 26:26) And taking the cup He said: This is My Blood of the New Covenant which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Mt 26:28) Then He prayed to His Father, saying: Father, if it can be done, let this cup pass from me. (Lk 22:42) And His sweat became as drops of blood falling on the ground. (Lk 22:44) Nevertheless, He placed His will in the will of His Father, saying: Father, let Your will be done; not as I will, but as You will. (Mt 26:42; 26:39) His Father’s will was such that His blessed and glorious Son, Whom He gave to us and Who was born for us, should offer Himself through His own blood as a sacrifice and oblation on the altar of the Cross: not for Himself through Whom all things were made, (Jn 1:3) but for our sins, leaving us an example that we might follow His footprints. (1Pt 2:21)

From Saint Francis of Assisi, “Later Admonition and Exhortation to the Brothers and sisters of Penance”