[MaryVitamin] St. John of the Cross

 

Mary Vitamin for December 14^th

 

Topic: Accepting Trials and Suffering with St. John of the Cross

(December 14)

 

Image by Fergal OP via Flickr

Quote:

Father Stefano Manelli, FI

"In imitation of the Mother of God, true clients of Mary ought to live a life of faith with unconquerable fortitude, never drawing back in the face of trial and suffering."

Devotion to Our Lady, (Academy of the Immaculate: 2001), 125

 

Medititation:

St. Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) tells us that St. John of the Cross was deeply devoted to the image of the Crucifix. His room was covered in Crosses made by his own hand. He spread his devotion by making gifts of these Crosses to others.

 

 St. Benedicta explains,

"It is beneficial to honor the Crucified in images and to fashion such as will encourage devotion to him. But better than any image made of wood or stone are living images. To form souls to the image of Christ, to plant the cross in their hearts, this was the great task in the life of [St. John of the Cross] the reformer of the [Carmelite] order and the director of souls. He used to urge the persons with whom he dealt to take the cross into their hearts. They should have 'great predilection for suffering, purely for the sake of Christ alone, without seeing any earthly consolation.' Often he would say, 'My daughter, ask for nothing other than the cross, and that in fact, without consolation; for that is perfection.'"

The Science of the Cross (ICS Publications: 2002), 276.

Image by OwenBlacker via Flickr

 

Resolution:

Let my Crucifix (whether on the wall or on my Rosary) serve as a reminder to me  to pray to embrace my Crosses and trials and not to ask to have them removed.

 

Marian Vow:

Catechism of the Catholic Church

 "Conversion is accomplished in daily life by gestures of reconciliation, concern for the poor, the exercise and defense of justice and right, by the admission of faults to one's brethren, fraternal correction, revision of life, examination of conscience, spiritual direction, acceptance of suffering, endurance of persecution for the sake of righteousness. Taking up one's cross each day and following Jesus is the surest way of penance."

CCC #1435

 

I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 

Thanks be to God for graces received.

 

Related sites: Castle of the Immaculate & AirMaria

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