The Transforming Power of the Cross
carry. We must all identify our crosses and carry them with patience, joy and love. Why complain about something which is our means to gain eternal life?
As Thomas a' Kempis reminds us, "The cross, therefore, is always ready; it awaits you everywhere. No matter where you may go, you cannot escape it, for wherever you go you take yourself with you and shall always find yourself. Turn where you will --above, below, without, or within -- you will find a cross in everything, and everywhere you must have patience if you would have peace within and merit an eternal crown.
If you carry the cross willingly, it will carry and lead you to the desired goal where indeed there shall be no more suffering, but here there shall be. If you carry it unwillingly, you create a burden for yourself and increase the load, though still you have to bear it. If you cast away one cross, you will find another and perhaps a heavier one" (The Imitation of Christ, Book II, chapter 12).
"And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves; and he was transfigured before them, and his garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them" (Mark 9: 2-3).
The transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor tells us that the glory of the resurrection will only take place through the sufferings of Good Friday. The transfiguration of Jesus teaches us that the experience of the cross is necessary in order for Easter to take place. However, too many of our contemporaries are like those who stood at the foot of the Cross and cried out to Jesus that he should come down from the Cross. Many would like to have a Christianity without self-denial, discipline, and renunciation. However, Christianity without the Cross is not Christianity at all.
What is your cross? Maybe you have many crosses to carry. How do you carry your cross? Do you complain? Are you discouraged? Do you run away from the cross?
There is only one way to carry your cross. Carry your cross with generosity. Carry your cross with patience, love, and joy. See in your cross your sanctification, your eternal salvation. Understand that with your cross, united to the cross of Jesus, you have a continual opportunity to save souls and make reparation for so many sins.
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Father James Farfaglia is the Pastor of St. Helena of the True Cross of Jesus Catholic Church in Corpus Christi, Texas. Father James is known for his orthodoxy, his unconditional obedience to the Pope, his delicate fidelity to all liturgical norms, his love for real sacred music, his well prepared homilies, and his unwavering pro-life stand. He is a contributing writer for Catholic Online.
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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.
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thank you so much for your wonderful illustration of the cross, Of which i can now understand that, we are in the world of many challenges and obstacles which is the cross, and without the cross there will be no link way to salvation. And through your discusion of the cross, you have now chanelled me to understand that whatever my cross may be, that i should carry it with joy, love, and patience and not to indulge into grudging and complaining. And i ask for the grace of God to be upoon me so that i may be able to follow his footh steps and recieve the salvation brought to us. Thanks and God bless Amen.
No sin is greater than God. He loves always and forever will be with us now and at the hour of our death. Do not be afraid to die for according to the sorrowful mystery we ask our Lord to be with us at the hour of our trial and death. Call on Him and He will answer you Clara Cortinas for you are not alone. I am from Houston,Texas and I will pray for you and your family. God loves you and He has forgiven you. Meditate on the mysteries by praying the Rosary everyday. After each decade say Oh! Holy Mother of God pray for me a sinner now and at the hour of my death I am healed, Amen.
When i was praying The Stations of the Croos at my parish, i felt so ashamed and vowed to remain faithful to the teaching of the Church. From SS Peter & Paul Isolo, Lagos
Clara, I will pray for you. You should pray for me. It's been a long, long time since my last confession and now I find myself all but homebound. It's time for me to call my pastor and request that we find a mutual meeting time and place to do this. I need, too, to receive the Eucharist as often as possible. A Rosary every day. Read Scripture with helps. You have a computer - log into Catholic.com; Catholic.online.com; EWTN.com; Catholic Answers. These are loads of help in this area. Remember that no matter what you did, the Lord, Jesus, never stops loving you. A simple turning to Him, an "I'm sorry", and you are back on the right track. God Bless You.
I'll be undergoing a biopsy for liver cancer, but I know in my heart that I do have it because of my previous medical history. I've lived a life of excess, and am sorry to have wasted so much of my husband's money he works so hard. Sometimes I'm overwhelmed with faith, and other times I run away from it like on many Sundays I know I should go to Mass, but many times I don't attend. I want to go to heaven and be with Our Lord. And I want to be strong for what's ahead. How can I get strong and will God forgive my ugly past. So many times I've disapointed him even after promising to change. So many broken promises. What can I do to prepare for death? I only cry why I think of leaving my adult children and grandchildren.
Thanks for the beautiful story. Thank for reminding me about my cross. Pray for me that I may carry it with Joy, love and patience.