When we walk without the cross, when we build without the cross and when we proclaim Christ without the cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly. We may be bishops, priests, cardinals, popes, all of this, but we are not disciples of the Lord.
–Pope Francis (1936-
It is impossible to love God without loving the Cross.
–Jeanne Guyon (1648-1717)
For the salvation of all of us in general, our Lord could not have given Himself more than He did on the Cross; and He cannot give Himself to each one of us in particular more than He has done in the Eucharist.
–Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange (1877–1964)
Let us then learn from the Cross of Jesus our proper way of living.
Should I say ‘living’ or, instead, ‘dying’? Rather, both living and dying.
Dying to the world, living for God.
Dying to vices and living by the virtues.
Dying to the flesh, but living in the spirit.
Thus in the Cross of Christ there is death and in the Cross of Christ there is life.
The death of death is there, and the life of life.
The death of sins is there and the life of the virtues.
The death of the flesh is there, and the life of the spirit.
But why did God choose this manner of death?
He chose it as both a mystery and an example.
In addition, he chose it because our sickness was such as to make such a remedy appropriate.
It was fitting that we who had fallen because of a tree might rise up because of a tree.
Fitting that the one who had conquered by means of a tree might also be conquered by means of a tree.
Fitting that we who had eaten the fruit of death from a tree might be given the fruit of life from a tree.
And because we had fallen from the security of that most blessed place on earth into this great, expansive sea, it was fitting that wood should be made ready to carry us across it.
For no one crosses the sea except on wood, or this world except on the Cross.
–Saint Aelred of Rievaulx (1110-1167)
He received the spittings of insulters, who with His spittle had a little before made eyes for a blind man.
And He in whose name the devil and his angels is now scourged by His servants, Himself suffered scourgings!
He was crowned with thorns, who crowns martyrs with eternal flowers.
He was smitten on the face with palms, who gives the true palms to those who overcome.
He was despoiled of His earthly garment, who clothes others in the vesture of immortality.
He was fed with gall, who gave heavenly food.
He was given to drink of vinegar, who appointed the cup of salvation.
That guiltless, that just One—nay, He who is innocency itself and justice itself—is counted among transgressors, and truth is oppressed with false witnesses.
He who shall judge is judged; and the Word of God is led silently to the slaughter.
And when at the cross, of the Lord the stars are confounded, the elements are disturbed, the earth quakes, night shuts out the day, the sun…He speaks not, nor is moved, nor declares His majesty even in His very passion itself.
Even to the end, all things are borne perseveringly and constantly, in order that in Christ a full and perfect patience may be consummated.
And after all these things, He still receives His murderers, if they will be converted and come to Him.
And with a saving patience, He who is benignant to preserve, closes His Church to none.
–Saint Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200-258)
Had there been no cross, Christ could not have been crucified. Had there been no cross, life itself could not have been nailed to the tree. And if life had not been nailed to it, there would be no streams of immortality pouring from Christ’s side, blood and water for the world’s cleansing. The legal bond of our sin would not be cancelled, we should not have attained our freedom, we should not have enjoyed the fruit of the tree of life, and the gates of paradise would not stand open. Had there been no cross, death would not have been trodden underfoot, nor hell despoiled. –Saint Lawrence Justinian (1381-1456)
