Yesterday was Septuagesima Sunday when we fully turn our faces from the celebration of Christmas to the Suffering of Lent. Over the weekend I finally took down the creche and the Christmas tree -- reluctantly. With all the frigid weather, the lights spread a cheery glow in our dining room at every meal spreading warmth, if not to the body to the soul.
But now we begin the journey to Ash Wednesday and the season of penance and suffering. After the long season of celebration, we shift to the long season of sacrifice. I won't ask which one you prefer. Somehow, except for the saints (which we are called to be), we mortals enjoy the feast more than the fast. The coming season of Lent invites us to a closer walk with the suffering Jesus, the surest path to sanctity.
I'm offering a guest post today from an internet friend who is a suffering soul. She lives in the U.K. and has emailed me several times and shared a little of her story:
In November 22024, I had 2 falls; 3 weeks in hospital; I'm now at home but need 24 hour care and added to that, I’ve developed something called ‘a dropped head’. This means I can’t look upwards but only downwards. People’s knees, shoes are not very exciting! It’s extremely painful to look up.
The moon is glorious this morning shining on the snow through our little stand of pine trees and I'm rejoicing in the beauty of "Our Lady's lamp." Sunrise is still an hour away. Imagine not being able to look at the clear winter sky at night when the moon and stars sprinkle heaven with glory. Please pray for Catherine and for all those God chooses to kiss in an especially intimate way by joining their suffering to His. It is "the invitation" Catherine describes.
The Crucifix – a slow death through the most intense pain…
Throughout the ages, the Crucifix has always provided fruitful ground for mediation. The Crucifix is universal and stands atop the world. O Crux Ave! Spes Unica! (Hail, O Cross! Our only hope!)
The cross, according to St Bonaventure, taught him everything he knew. Christ’s sufferings on the cross shows to all mankind the dreadful and terrible consequences and gravity of sin. The cross of Calvary demonstrates how fearsome and dreadful in the eyes of Christ, God Incarnate, is each and every sin. A crucifix clearly indicates the overwhelming love that God has for each one of us, that His love endures this suffering for us all.
The Crucifix was extremely popular in the Middle Ages. The martyr saint, Bishop John Fisher, would preach about the Crucifix describing it as “this most wonderful book”. Fisher preached two sermons and both describe the crucifix as a book to be read, where the reader “he may find all things that be necessary to the health of his soul…”. Fisher paints a picture in which the “leaves [of the book] are Christ’s arms spread out”. All the imprints from scourging, beatings, crown of thorns left different colours, black, blue, and red, and there are no blank spaces on this page. Fisher also exhorts “behold and view every part of this blessed body, what pain it endured for thy sake?”
The drawing of the Crucifix shown here was drawn for me and could be understood as personal, but the more I look at it, the more it says. I believe it can also speak to others. Of course, in one sense, this drawing uses artist’s license for no man being crucified could take his wrist/hand out of the nail. But that is being far too literal. The little heart, just below Christ’s knee is a tender interpretation of the gesture of His right arm, held out to embrace the slightly apprehensive demeanour of the little figure.
But, in the drawing, Christ’s right arm is stretched out towards the figure below. What is Our Lord doing? Is it, with the heart under Christ’s knees, just a gesture of love? Or is He blessing?, or embracing?, or leading? If leading, then where is he leading? Or is He offering to lead the small figure onto the Cross? It’s always important to remember Our Lord’s very specific words: “He who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me” (Matt 10.38) It is not for us to pick and choose which cross to pick; it is up to us to accept what Our Lord allows. After all, Christ tells us that his “yoke is easy” and “his burden light” (Matt 11.30).
No doubt there are many other interpretations… all have a place without any right or wrong.
O Crux Ave! Spes Unica!
Catherine Donner
United Kingdom
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