<http://ecceagnusdei.blogspot.com/2006/03/saints-interpretation-of-meaning-of.html>A
saint's interpretation of the meaning of the Cross and 14 rules to
abide by in carrying our daily crosses
THE FRIENDS OF THE CROSS by St. Louis De Montfort (1673-1716)
II -- The Two Groups
A -- THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST AND THE FOLLOWERS OF THE WORLD
7. Dear Brethren these are the two groups that appear before you each
day, the followers of Christ and the followers of the world.
Our loving Saviour's group is to the right, scaling a narrow path
made all the narrower by the world's corruption. Our kind Master is
in the lead, barefooted, thorn-crowned, robed in His blood and
weighted with a heavy cross. There is only a handful of people who
follow Him, but they are the bravest of the brave. His gentle voice
is not heard above the tumult of the world, or men do not have the
courage to follow Him in poverty, suffering, humiliation and in the
other crosses His servants must bear all the days of their life.
B -- THE OPPOSING SPIRIT OF THE GROUPS
8. To the left is the world's group, the devil's in fact, which is
far superior in number, and seemingly far more colourful and splendid
in array. Fashionable folk are all in a hurry to enlist, the highways
are overcrowded, although they are broad and ever broadening with the
crowds that flow through in a torrent. These roads are strewn with
flowers, bordered with all kinds of amusements and attractions, and
paved with gold and silver (Matt. 7, 13-14).
9. To the right, the little flock that follows Jesus can speak only
of tears, penance, prayer and contempt for worldly things. Sobbing in
their grief, they can be heard repeating: "Let us suffer, let us
weep, let us fast, let us pray, let us hide, let us humble ourselves,
let us be poor, let us mortify ourselves, for he who has not the
spirit of Christ, the spirit of the Cross, is none of Christ's. Those
who are Christ's have crucified their flesh with its concupiscence.
We must be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ or else be damned!"
"Be brave, " they keep saying to each other, "be brave, for if God is
for us, in us and leading us, who dare be against us? The One Who is
dwelling within us is stronger than the one who is in the world; no
servant is above his master; one moment of light tribulation worketh
an eternal weight of glory; there are fewer elect than man may think;
only the brave and daring take heaven by storm; the crown is given
only to those who strive lawfully according to the Gospel, not
according to the fashion of the world. Let us put all our strength
into the fight, and run very fast to reach the goal and win the
crown. " Friends of the Cross spur each other on with such divine words.
10. Worldlings, on the contrary, rouse one another to persist in
their unscrupulous depravity. "Enjoy life, peace and pleasure, " they
shout, "Enjoy life, peace and pleasure. Let us eat, let us drink, let
us sing, let us dance, let us play. God is good, He did not make us
to damn us; God does not forbid us to enjoy ourselves; we shall not
be damned for that; away with scruples; we shall not die. " And so
they continue.
C -- LOVING APPEAL OF JESUS
11. Dear Brethren, remember that our beloved Jesus has His eyes upon
you at this moment, addressing you individually: "See how almost
everybody leaves Me practically alone on the royal road of the Cross.
Blind idol-worshipers sneer at My Cross and brand it folly. Obstinate
Jews are scandalised at the sight of it as at some monstrosity (1
Cor. 1, 23). Heretics tear it down and break it to pieces out of
sheer contempt. But one thing I cannot say without My eyes filling
with tears and My heart being pierced with grief is that the very
children I nourished in My bosom and trained in My school, the very
members I quickened with My spirit have turned against Me, forsaken
Me and joined the ranks of the enemies of My Cross (Is. 1, 2; Phil.
3, 18). Would you also leave Me? (John 6, 68). Would you also forsake
me and flee from My Cross, like the worldlings, who are acting as so
many Anti-Christs? (1 John 2, 12). Would you subscribe to the
standards of the day (Rom. 12, 2), despise the poverty of My Cross
and go in quest of riches; shun the sufferings connected with My
Cross, to run after pleasure; spurn the humiliations that must be
borne with My Cross, and pursue worldly honours? There are many who
pretend that they are friends of Mine and love Me but in reality they
hate Me because they have no love for My Cross. I have many friends
of My table, but few indeed of My Cross. " (Imitation of Jesus
Christ, Book 2, Chap. 11. )
12. In answer to the gracious invitation which Jesus extends, let us
rise above ourselves. Let us not, like Eve, listen to the insidious
suggestion of sense. Let us look up to the unique Author and Finisher
of our faith, Jesus crucified (Heb. 12, 2). Let us fly from the
corrupting concupiscence and enticements of a corrupt world (2 Pet.
1, 4). Let us love Jesus in the right way, standing by Him through
the heaviest of crosses. Let us meditate seriously on these
remarkable words of our beloved Master which sum up the Christian
life in its perfection: "If any man will come after Me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matt. 16, 24).
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Lord, may everything we do begin with Your inspiration and continue
with Your help,
so that all our prayers and works may begin in You and by You be happily ended.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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Lord, may everything we do begin with Your inspiration and continue
with Your help,
so that all our prayers and works may begin in You and by You be happily ended.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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