As a member of the Church Militant (not the Church Milquetoast), I believe in studying warriors' manuals. One of them is The Spiritual Combat by Dom Lorenzo Scupoli, a 16th century priest. The book was a favorite of St. Francis de Sales, master of the spiritual life, who carried it in his pocket and read from it every day. He also recommended it to his spiritual sons and daughters. One can't go wrong with such an effective manual for fighting the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Chapter 52 of this precious little treasure describes, "The Benefits Derived From Meditations on the Cross and the Imitation of the Virtue of Christ Crucified." The way of the cross is the surest path to eternal life. Reading and contemplating on the messages of this book inspire one to embrace with courage the most painful crosses. We are never closer to the heart of Jesus than when we are on the cross, crucified with him. How can we complain of our crucifixion by thumbtack when we contemplate the sufferings of our Lord and Savior and realize that God willed them for His only begotten Son. God is not a sadist! Suffering offers us the surest and most direct path to salvation provided we accept and embrace it. Those who resist suffering, add to their crosses. Wallowing in self-pity and misery never reduces the agony, but only adds to it.
I offer this thought from Dom Scupoli for meditation today:
Behold...what God bestowed on the soul of Jesus; consider that the divine will decreed the scourgings, spittle, blasphemies, buffetings, crown of thorns for love of us, and the crucifixion, which were meted out to Jesus, the only and beloved Son of God. See with what delight God, knowing the admirable end to which it was all directed, beheld His divine Son, loaded with infamy and overwhelmed with affliction.
Read those words again. God willed all that suffering heaped on Jesus. Do you feel astonished reading those words "with what delight" God observed Christ's suffering? And why? Because He knew the "admirable end to which it was all directed." The "admirable end" --- our salvation. How can we read those words and not see that God has in mind an "admirable end" for all our sufferings when we embrace them as the divine will and accept them "with delight" for the "admirable end" they will bring.
Dom Scupoli offers us this consolation:
Moreover, reflect that throughout His entire life, [Jesus] was motivated, not by compulsion or self-interest, but rather by pure love alone, that you may learn from Him the manner of practicing patience. Endeavor, therefore, to attain a perfect knowledge of what He demands of you, and consider His delight at your practice of patience. Then form an ardent desire of carrying this cross and heavier ones, not only with patience, but with joy, that you may more exactly imitate Christ crucified and render yourself more acceptable to Him.
Can I accept my sufferings "not only with patience, but with joy?" It seems impossible, but all things are possible with God's grace. No one can escape suffering in this valley of tears. But we can choose to kiss the cross and make it our surest and quickest way to holiness. Give us the grace, O Lord, to say yes to the crosses of life.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, pierced for our sins, have mercy on us.
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