The Seven Words Spoken by Christ on the Cross

Bellarmine wrote the two books in 1618, in his yearly retreat, “preparing for my death” (Preface). The footnotes are the 1877 edition’s Scripture references.

1. Preface of Bellarmine
2. Book I. On the First Three Words spoken on the Cross
3. Chapter I. The literal explanation of the first word, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
4. Chapter II. The first fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the first word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
5. Chapter III. The second fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the first word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
6. Chapter IV. The literal explanation of the second word, “Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise.”
7. Chapter V. The first fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the second word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
8. Chapter VI. The second fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the second word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
9. Chapter VII. The third fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the second word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
10. Chapter VIII. The literal explanation of the third word— Behold thy Mother: Behold thy son.”
11. Chapter IX. The first fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the third word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
12. Chapter X. The second fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the third word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
13. Chapter XI. The third fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the third word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
14. Chapter XII. The fourth fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the third word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
15. Book II. On the Last Four Words spoken on the Cross
16. Chapter I. The literal explanation of the fourth word, “My God, My God, why hast Thou abandoned Me?”
17. Chapter II. The first fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the fourth word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
18. Chapter III. The second fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the fourth word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
19. Chapter IV. The third fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the fourth word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
20. Chapter V. The fourth fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the fourth word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
21. Chapter VI. The fifth fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the fourth word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
22. Chapter VII. The literal explanation of the fifth word, “I thirst.”
23. Chapter VIII. The first fruit to be derived from the consideration of the fifth word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
24. Chapter IX. The second fruit to be derived from the consideration of the fifth word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
25. Chapter X. the third fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the fifth word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
26. Chapter XI. The fourth fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the fifth word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
27. Chapter XII. The literal explanation of the sixth word, “It is consummated.”
28. Chapter XIII. The first fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the sixth word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
29. Chapter XIV. The second fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the sixth word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
30. Chapter XV. The third fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the sixth word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
31. Chapter XVI. The fourth fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the sixth word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
32. Chapter XVII. The fifth fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the sixth word spoken by Christ upon the Cross. —
33. Chapter XVIII. The sixth fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the sixth word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
34. Chapter XIX. The literal explanation of the seventh word, “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.”
35. Chapter XX. The first fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the seventh word spoken by Christ upon the Cross. _
36. Chapter XXI. The second fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the seventh word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
37. Chapter XXII. The third fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the seventh word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
38. Chapter XXIII. The fourth fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the seventh word spoken by Christ upon the Cross
39. Chapter XXIV. The last fruit to be drawn from the consideration of the seventh word spoken by Christ upon the Cross