We adore You, O Christ, and bless You… because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
When the chief priests and the guards saw Jesus they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.”… They cried out, “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha.
John 19: 6, 15-17
O, my Jesus, I am so sorry for my sins. As I read this scripture passage, I become aware of the times that I was a Pilate and did not stand up for what was right. My self-love won out; my sin of pride would guide me to look the other way. Jesus, help me to pick up my crosses and bear them with joy… I know that you are with me.
I recall the day that I lost my central vision in one eye. The treatment is to receive shots into my eye every few months. When this happened several years ago, I was praying the Rosary daily and our dear Mother helped me to see how this cross was a blessing.
A few years later my faith had grown through the CRHP and Hearts A Fire ministries here at OLPH… and when I received the news that the disease had progressed to both eyes and had a complication of the shots in my eyes resulting in black dots in front of my vision that would come and go. I recall Jesus telling me, take Joy in this for you can always know this as a reminder that I am with you. I was not only able to carry this cross in life but was able to carry it with joy in the name of Jesus.
Are we ready each day to share in some small piece of Jesus’ Cross in our life? Can we accept the Mercy that comes by willingly carrying our cross in the name of Jesus, as He carried the cross in our name?
Lord, grant us strength of purpose that we may faithfully bear our crosses each day. Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be to the Father... Lord Jesus Christ, your passion and death is the sacrifice that unites heaven and earth, and reconciles all people to you. May we who have faithfully reflected on the mysteries of Your passion follow in your steps and so come to share your glory in heaven where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen. Lord Jesus Christ... crucified... have mercy on us. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
By Mary Maginot
Retreat During Daily Life 