On The Cross

"The cross is love." St. Teresa of Avila

Let us talk on the Cross. I have listed the topic on this writing, "The cross is
love." St. Teresa of Avila.
Back when God created everything and Man and Woman fell from the grace of God; t
he share of Divine Life.
God had in the plans from the start of redemption; because God knows all and it
was the test He gave the Angels.
Those Angels who said, "I will not serve that man who is God."
God knew He had to redeem us; why did He chose to become Man and die on the cros
s? God could of snapped His fingers and everything would of been made perfect ag
ain; but God chose to humble Himself to walk among us, to experience all the har
dships we suffer; to become close to us; so we won't feel all alone and that God
will know what we go through.
Jesus; the God-Man; in the Passion; He was tested in the garden and felt all the
sorrow; as we see in the movie; Satan; tested Him in the garden. God the Father
sent Jesus a angel to comfort Him and to strengthen Him.
Jesus passed the Test and Remained faithful to the Father and stomped the head o
f the snake in that movie.
Jesus started off better than Adam did in the Garden of Eden; Jesus beat off the
temptation to give up the chalice of suffering given by the Father. Jesus praye
d; His face transformed and the Apostles could see the fear and sorrow in His fa
ce.
A while before at the Sermon on the Mount; Jesus gave the doctrine of what it me
ans to be a follower; "Whoever wants to follow Me, you must deny yourself, pick
up your cross and carry it daily."
What does Jesus mean to deny ourself? St. John the Bapist in the Jordan said it
wonderfully: "I must decrease and the Lord must increase." We are to decrease, d
ie to the world and let the Lord increase in our life and in the world around us
.

Now, in the garden; Jesus wanted the Father to be glorified through Him and to l
et the Father's Will be done. To have the Father's Will be done; meant the Son d
ying for us and redeeming us from our sins and eternal death.
Through this Jesus allowed Himself to be taken like a lamb; so innocent and pure
through the judgement; as the lamb was checked out to see if it is pure and whe
n was found out to be pure; Jesus was silent and always at prayer.

Finally, Jesus accepted His cross with love. He embraced the cross and accepted
it freely.
But to see Jesus' cross; we must see everything that is given to us in Scripture
. Which would be when He was born in that cold cave on that early Christmas morn
ing.
Followed by the leaving early to go to Egypt to be kept from being murdered. His
life which is given in Scripture; showed the start of His mission and His cross
.
He embraced everything in a gentle nature; even when He whipped the money change
rs and tax collectors and traders; to remove them from the temple; to restore th
e House of His Father.
His cross was designed by the Father; so He could handle it God gives us our cro
sses; but they are designed so we can carry the Cross but not get wore out.
If the Cross seems too much; we can ask God to help us or take away some of the
cross.
When Jesus accepted the cross with love; He gave us the way to accept our cross;
by accepting it and embracing it with Love. The Way of the Cross; Jesus showed
us the Love of the Cross.
With the cross bars of the Cross; where the arms reach out; this is where the Lo
ve comes from. Is there a ending to the cross bars? No.
They are never ending; it is the picture of God's Mercy; His Mercy never ends. T
he Cross is Love; because the cross-bars reach out as a hug welcoming us home; w
elcoming those sinners who repent home. This is the Cross and it is Love.
God bless

On The Cross: II

"The Cross is love." St. Teresa of Avila

How can the Cross be love?

When Jesus was nailed to the Cross; in one of His prophetic sayings on the Passi
on to the Apostles or to some saying, "When I am raised up; I will draw all men
to myself." Which means all people will be brough to Him on the Cross.
How much does Jesus love us? His love is never ending; because the cross-bars ha
ve no ending. It is a never ending hug or embrace of love and mercy to us. When
He talked about that; He was talking about; He will bring all people to Him thro
ugh His mercy and love.
Just like the Cross; nothing ends.
Why is it that Most Protestants have a hard time with the Crucifix?
Most say, "Oh He is risen and there is no need for Him to be left on the cross."
Agreed. But, after a while you become lazy and start getting sinful; because yo
u forget what He did for you. Once you forget; you start having sexual relations
outside of marriage, you let your kids grow up in a pagan way, you do not corre
ct yourself, your husband or kids; just let them and yourself do whatever you wa
nt, how much and whenever. That is why we Catholics and the slight few Protestan
ts want Jesus' body left on the Cross; to remind ourself each day of what He did
 for us and to make sure we never sin or if we almost do; we look at Him and sto
p.
My aunt and uncle's house; my uncle left the Church to become a Methodist; good
people; most of them and friends or even family. But, the priest I looked up to
growing up and being his faithful altar boy; he came over to bless our house and
we let him; well he had me shake the holy water and he said the words. He went
over to my uncle's house; now; my uncle would of said yes; if his wife wasn't ho
me; but she was and I heard about it and still remember it. He saw how they let
their children live; two girls; and how their life style was; he didn't hold bac
k and called them, "Heathens."
We do have many "Heathens or Pagans" in the Church today; sad to say; some are l
ong distance relatives of mine and I'm sure you have some too. I'm sure there ar
e many every where. I love my old priest; he kept everyone in line, even when it
was a hot summer day; everyone was dressed in pants or girls had a proper dress
on, long sleeves and guys had proper shirts and pants and socks and shoes on. T
he music was Catholic and no boy friend or girl friend lived together; because h
e made house visits to check on everyone and no engaged couples lived together e
ither. He was strict but the most wonderful man you would ever meet; just the sa
me personality as the Pope.
Anyway back on topic.
With all these immoral and Pagan lifestyles; is that greater than God's Mercy? N
o. No sin is not greater than God's Mercy. If you think it is; you have sinned r
ight there on the spot.
The Cross shows us God's Love and Mercy for us. When we see Jesus nailed and han
ging on the Cross; we see Him giving His own life freely to save us. That is Lov
e. True love is when a friend gives up his or her life and dies for the people t
hey love or don't even know. Jesus shows us this love.
All these people who chose to live this life and not to love God; what happened?
Not too many people have been taught this or if they have; they didn't listen a
nd chose not to listen; because they wanted a false freedom; a sinful freedom; w
hich isn't freedom but slavery. Where you become like the African Americans; if
you are seen or caught escaping; torture or death; but the death will be much wo
rse; eternal death and the tortures of hell.
We must understand something, when we are tempted; it is not a sin but if we fal
l for it; then it becomes a sin. There are two types of sins: Mortal and Venial.
Mortal is the type of sin which could kill you forever and send you to hell if
you die with one on your soul. Mortal you go to confession and confess; is the o
nly way you get rid of it. Mortal, you lose the share in Divine Life. Venial, is
not a serious sin; but if you let them build up; they will become serious. To g
et rid of them; go to confession, receive the Eucharist, The Kyrie; pound your c
hest three times with your fist; the Confessor at the Mass.
But, all sins are to be allowed to be confessed in the confessional. If the prie
st says different; well he shouldn't be a confessor; because he is breaking Cano
n Law I do believe. Tell the bishop if the priest is doing that and he will corr
ect the matter; if the bishop does nothing; well send them a nice letter from th
e Nuncio. No one should be turned away from receiving God's Mercy in the Sacrame
nt of Confession.
The Cross is Love; is a beautiful statement. Most do not believe it; but it is a
true statement. I like to think when I am in confession and it's been a while;
I always hear welcome home or welcome back and feel that embrace. Which does hap
pen and sometimes Jesus does say it through the priest.
After God gives us His mercy in the confessional; we are almost told to pick up
our cross outside and carry it. We know the pews aren't that big in the churches
; but each and everyone has their cross with them and when we kneel at those mom
ents at the Mass; the crosses come too and when we genuflect or stay kneeling to
receive Jesus in the Eucharist; we have that weight on us. But it is a good wei
ght; because it is a sign of His love for us; the Cross. To love Him; we are to
follow the Commandments, love our neighbors as we love ourself and carry our cro
sses to the end.
All those sports stars do what? Train to win what? A trophy that will rust and b
reak and turn into dust. Why train for a trophy or a crown that after fifty or t
wo hundred years; those things will start to break down and fall apart? It is se
nseless and dumb. We have a crown that will never rust and turn to dust that we
receive; if we are faithful and remain faithful to Christ when we die; a crown o
f glory.
Our race is much tougher and rougher than the sports people or actors, actress o
r writers could imagine. We have to fight for every inch and fight to save souls
and to save our own soul from the devil. What kind of training does that take?
The best spiritual training God has to offer.
Now, there are traps and tricks of the devil and of his demons out there; trying
to steal our souls. I do not care if you believe in that place in Bosnia; but I
say watch and pray; because there are good fruits from that place but also bad
fruits too; so half and half. The message I read when my mom gave me the site fo
r that place was that Mary was going to tell those kids when the end was, which
could not happen: Because God only knows and no one else. In the first letter of
John; what does he tell us to do? To test every spirit before we believe it; so
we do not deceive ourself or be caught in a trap.
What does this have to do with the Love of the Cross? Many things. Because while
we are carrying our cross; we are to grow in holiness and start loving like Chr
ist loves us all. We are to grow in our faith and become strong and humble like
the Desert Fathers, the Church Fathers, St. Francis and his brother friars, all
the saints. The Love of the Cross; is in every saint; because they understood it
and they understand it fully now in Heaven. "Watch and Pray, so you may not ent
er into temptation."
God bless

On The Cross: III

"The Cross is Love" St. Teresa of Avila

To wrap up this topic and subject; let us look at the suffering in our life whic
h we should give to Jesus on the Cross to have the Love of the Cross be shown.
We know suffering; because we all suffer; some suffer more serve pains than othe
rs. Suffering includes the loss of a child, a friend or even a dog you loved or
another a pet.
It is hard to make sense of this third part; because our suffering could be used
for the love of the cross. How can that happen?
Look to the Blessed Mother; she was there at the Cross and saw her baby boy die;
in her eyes; yes she understood He is God but also her baby boy.
Her suffering was called a white martyrdom; by joining her sufferings with her S
on's on the cross. Which helped us with the graces given.
To suffer and give it to Jesus on the Cross; He uses our sufferings to sanctify
those in need of graces and those who are harden sinners.
By offering our sufferings to Jesus; we will help break down the walls of those
sinners whose heart's our hard and closed.
That is what Mary did with Jesus on the Cross; I'm sure there is a name for it b
ut at the moment I can't think of it or remember it.

II

In our sufferings of injuries we suffer; we can offer up to Jesus; and we are to

ld to offer our sufferings up; any sufferings; including to our Lady of Fatima;
so she; through her Son can fix the world and shake everyone up and wake us up.
To understand the cross; well; let us learn from our Mother; she was there and I
bet holding on to it; to be close to her Son.
I have the same injury in the left side; the same nurse gave me my monthly shot;
I'm not sure if the first one is healed; because it does hurt to walk, move, si
t, sit up in bed; even hurts to sleep.
I offer up this pain to Jesus on the Cross; so everyone else can see and witness
; but better yet; to experience the love of the Cross. The saving and sanctify p
ower of the Cross.
The news that broke on facebook late tonight/early morning about a amber alert;
some on here you have to find out to make sure; but amber alerts are no joking m
atter.
The parents and families go through great suffering; which if they give that suf
fering to Jesus on the Cross; other people will experience that love of the Cros
s.
All of our sufferings can and should be used to share the love of the cross. Eve
ry single suffering; big or small; will help anyone come closer to Jesus.
Give that suffering to Jesus on the Cross; do not forget to talk to our Mother;
she is like every mother on earth; nervous when we don't call her by talking to
her.
If you want to know Jesus better; Mary will tell us all we need to know; if we a
sk about Him when He was a child; I bet she will tell us.
Give our suffering to Jesus and let Him use it to share the love of the cross.
God bless

The Cross: On the Teaching of Discipleship

"If you want to be My disciple, you must take up your cross and follow Me."

Part two of my pre-thesis or practice-thesis; this part of the Cross is very imp
ortant to our way of life as Christians. We can not be a Christian; without carr
ying our cross every day.
Some days it seems lighter than other days but those days you are sick and hurt;
it feels like the cross was made out of rail-road ties; which are heavy and thi
ck pieces of wood.

Why do some 'Christians' think we don't have to carry the Cross to be followers
of Christ?

This is something that has started to split Catholics up and Protestants even mo
re; it also started when the so called 'reformation' took place and Luther and t
hose other people left the Church founded by Christ to found their own; with the
ir own rules.

This is where the Doctrine of discipleship went south; because each Protestant c
hurch has their own rules and they keep changing the rules; to make sure everyon
e feels welcome and doesn't hurt anyone's feelings; which means they have no rul
es.

That is why when suffering comes into their families; they are uncertain on how
to handle it and that is why they get depressed and some Catholics get depressed
; because they start living a very weak and watered down faith; where there is n
o rules hardly and they do not listen to the Church's Teaching on what to do.

I think why so many Christians do not follow this doctrine taught by Christ; bec
ause of the lack of true Catechism Teachers who do not teach the fullness of the
faith.
Now, the Sunday School Teachers must teach the fullness of the Christian faith a
nd not hatred toward other sects of the Protestant churches and also to the One
True Church; plus the Orthodox Church.

With the lack of actual teachers teaching the fullness of Christ Teachings; this
is why so many do not follow Christ's Doctrine on being His disciple.

Why is this doctrine given by Christ so important to the Christian Faith?

The first reason is very easy and should be the only reason; because Christ said
so; but there are those so called 'christians' who want more reasons and won't
accept it straight from Christ.
The second reason is a little harder to explain: If so called 'christians' do no
t accept the teaching straight from Christ; then these people are not Christians
. To be a Christian; one must follow Christ; which is where we get the name Chri
stian.
That is why so called cults who try to use the name Christian with their group;
but they do not follow Christ; which means they are and can not be Christians; u
ntil they convert to the Church.
To accept this teaching on the cross that if we want to be Jesus' disciple; we m
ust take up and carry our cross daily. Means we are to carry Jesus' cross; as Ar
chbishop Fulton J. Sheen once said. To accept it; means we are to give our suffe
rings to Jesus; all our problems of each day is the cross we must carry; but we
shouldn't look sad; but have a sense of joy on our face.
When we carry our cross with the sense of joy in our life; we teach a good examp
le on how to carry the cross for others. Christ gave the perfect example.
But, how can we get those who deny Christ's teaching on carrying the cross; to c
arry the cross?
We should always pray for them; but then never give up on them and as Mother Ang
elica says, "be a thorn in someone's side." Not nag them but remind them; that t
hey can't be Jesus' disciple without carrying our cross daily.
After a while they will get the hint and finally start understanding that they m
ust carry their cross; even teaching them by telling them to offer up their suff
erings to Jesus on the Cross; so they or anyone can experience the loving power
of the Cross; by being sanctified.
To be a faithful Christian; we are to carry our cross as Mary carried her cross
for her entire life. A faithful Christian carries all the sufferings without com
plaining and we have given all our sufferings up to Christ; everything is a pray
er to us.

Finally what is our cross: It depends on the day that we wake up; each day the c
ross is different. Our cross comes from God; which is the illness of that day or
week or month; even year. All those injuries. Out of work. Can't find a job and
can't get hired. All those sufferings which come each and every day.

God bless

The Cross: On the Teaching of Discipleship:II

"If you want to be My disciple; you must take up your cross daily and follow Me.
"
I have started this talk on why it is important to carry our cross daily; but le
t us continue on this topic for my pre-thesis.
I know people complain; I think we all do; we can't help it; because we are weak
but the Spirit is Willing as Christ said in the garden; the time when He woke u
p Peter and the other Apostles.

Why does God give us the cross to carry?

I know people are like little children in their terrible two's; always asking wh
y and never really listening to the answer; until the parent or person explainin
g gives a answer they like; but in the Faith we do not give a answer that everyo
ne likes; we give the answer which is truth or leads to the truth of the Faith.

God gave us the cross to carry; because the Son of God was to suffer and did suf
fer the Passion and death on the Cross; Jesus carried the cross to redeem us and
so we carry the Cross to follow Jesus in His footsteps as Christians.
The quote to start part two of the pre-thesis; is His words to the Apostles and
the other seventy-two people.

Yes, it is a hard life; dragging a heavy cross to the end; which we do not know
when the end is; but we must keep our focus on God; without Him; we can do nothi
ng and we would of literally died or gave up on the cross; to go a different way
; which some have and are living a immoral life; even those who stay in the Chur
ch; but do not live the life of a Christian.

God gave us the cross; so we have a way to reach eternal life; which is the only
way; because Jesus is the Way and His Sacred Heart is the Gate of Heaven.

Will we be Crucified like Jesus?

Yes we will be crucified like Jesus; either spiritually or if we are called to g

ive our life in a Red Martyrdom; then we will be crucified; not on a cross but s
ome type of death or it could be on a cross.
Any Red Martyrdom is a type of crucifixion and when our faith is attacked; eithe
r personally or the entire Church; we go through a White Martyrdom or a spiritua
l crucifixion.
In our life we could be crucified thousands of times; from defending the faith a
nd when we are attacked on the teachings of the Church. We are not to worry abou
t it; but accept it; because we were told by Jesus this will happen; because the
y hated Him first, beat Him first and killed Him first. It will happen to us and
that is part of carrying the cross faithfully and being a faithful follower of
Christ.
Each Christian is to carry the cross truthfully and faithfully; which means that
split should not effect anything. If the spilt between the different theologies
effect the carrying of the cross faithfully and truthfully; then carrying the c
ross isn't the focus anymore.
Do you know the saying, "There is no salvation outside of the Church."? That is
true; if the Protestants who do not have any relationship with the Church; then
there is no salvation. To have relations with the Church; well the carrying of t
he Cross is part of the Catholic way of life; it is part of our Spirituality giv
en by Christ.
How to wrap up the final part of the thesis on The Cross?
The Cross is part of our Spirituality as Catholics; but the center of Our Spirit
uality is the Eucharist.
Cross means love; because the Cross is the tool of our salvation and Jesus redee
med us with the Cross and that is why we carry the Cross; so we may share in the
salvation plan.
If we do not carry the Cross; how can we enter into Heaven? We can't; because we
do not follow the path started by Christ. If we do not follow the path started
by Christ; we won't make it to heaven; but go on the easy path of sin; which loo
ks good until the end and we won't even know that we entered into hell; but afte
r it's too late. Carry the Cross faithfully; ask God to help us; ask the Saints
in heaven to intercede; especially Our Blessed Mother.
The Cross is the way to Heaven and the way to eternal happiness.
God bless