Need help understanding this and applying it

[dove_of_peace]

Hi,
I’ve been meditating on St Josemaria Escriva’s words in “The Way” and have been pondering #58:

'Don’t hinder the work of the Paraclete. Be united to Christ in order to purify yourself, and together with him experience the insults, the spit, the blows, and the thorns…Experience with him the weight of the cross, the nails tearing your flesh, and the agony of a forsaken death…And enter into the pierced side of our Lord Jesus until you find secure shelter in his wounded heart"

Can anyone shed some light on this and help me learn how to practically apply it to my daily life?

thank you for your thoughts, and God Bless
-Linda

 

[johnco]

hi,

it may be that fulfilling our daily duties faithfully is how most of us embrace the cross. sometimes it may be easier to suffer martyrdom once and for all than to live our obligations for a lifetime.

as for the pierced side of our blessed lord, may i suggest reading st. faustina,s diary.

God bless,

johnco

 

[dove_of_peace]

Thank you, johnco,

I appreciate your insights
I actually ordered St Faustina’s Diary a few days ago and look forward to starting it. Carrying my cross daily is a new way of thinking for me- I was always so concerned with getting rid of my cross at all costs.

thank you again,
-Linda

 

[dove_of_peace]

Anyone else have any thoughts on this?
Thank you,
-Linda

 

[John_Russell_Jr]

Hi,
I’ve been meditating on St Josemaria Escriva’s words in “The Way” and have been pondering #58:

'Don’t hinder the work of the Paraclete. Be united to Christ in order to purify yourself, and together with him experience the insults, the spit, the blows, and the thorns…Experience with him the weight of the cross, the nails tearing your flesh, and the agony of a forsaken death…And enter into the pierced side of our Lord Jesus until you find secure shelter in his wounded heart"

Can anyone shed some light on this and help me learn how to practically apply it to my daily life?

thank you for your thoughts, and God Bless
-Linda

Hi Dove
He is saying that the Holy Spirit will work in us to form us into another Christ. Christ is the victim soul par excellence. We most perfectly resemble Christ when we suffer. But it’s the ordinary little things of everyday that are our crosses. We don’t need to seek out big crosses, the day will bring plenty. We should practise mortification too.
Entering into the pierced side is a way of saying we can find rest in the midst of our sufferings in this place. It’s not meant to be taken literally. When we enter into the heart of Jesus we abide in His love. Resting inside the wound and in His heart is to do with the mystical body of Christ. He is the head and we are the body. Hope this helps.

 

[RobNY]

Hi,
I’ve been meditating on St Josemaria Escriva’s words in “The Way” and have been pondering #58:

'Don’t hinder the work of the Paraclete. Be united to Christ in order to purify yourself, and together with him experience the insults, the spit, the blows, and the thorns…Experience with him the weight of the cross, the nails tearing your flesh, and the agony of a forsaken death…And enter into the pierced side of our Lord Jesus until you find secure shelter in his wounded heart"

Can anyone shed some light on this and help me learn how to practically apply it to my daily life?

thank you for your thoughts, and God Bless
-Linda

It seems to be influenced by the Anima Christi.

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
Good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds, hide me.
Separated from you let me never be.
From the evil one protect me.
At the hour of my death call me.
And close to you bid me.
That with all your saints I may be
Praising you forever and ever.
Amen.

I can’t help too much, except to say that praying about it for a while might give you insight into it.

-Rob

 

[Belle10]

Thank you, johnco,

I appreciate your insights
I actually ordered St Faustina’s Diary a few days ago and look forward to starting it. Carrying my cross daily is a new way of thinking for me- I was always so concerned with getting rid of my cross at all costs.

thank you again,
-Linda

Linda, I think we all would like to get rid of our crosses – that’s human nature. Thankfully we have the Holy Spirit to help us persevere and follow Jesus with our crosses, imitating Him. Often hard, often lonely, but always worth it.

I’m sure you’ll enjoy St. Faustina’s Diary – I finished reading it recently myself. In it, St. Faustina mentions nestling close to Jesus’ heart, particularly after receiving Him in Holy Communion, and how wonderful it is. I’ve been trying to do that myself lately, and it is such a warm, special place. Staying close to the pierced Heart of Jesus helps us experience His love and mercy, and if we can experience those wonderful gifts, they will give us strength in our everyday lives, not only in carrying our own crosses, but in spreading the message of mercy to others and perhaps helping them with their crosses.

God bless!

 

[tmango]

Dove - I always tried to avoid the cross, too. It is not a pleasant thought, until you look deeper into the faith and find that the cross is to be embraced. As Fr Corapi has said, “No pain, no gain. No cross, no crown. No Good Friday, no Easter Sunday.”

Fr Corapi explains this suffering as a purifying of the soul by the Holy Spirit, when one embraces his or her cross. He says that when we suffer on the cross, we are next to Jesus on the cross.

When I really think about the cross, I wonder how God could bring Himself down to our level, the level of a creature, and let His created creatures spit on Him, slap Him, mock Him, and then crucify Him. He could have stopped this at any moment, but He let us humiliate Him and then nail Him to a cross. Why? Love.

Now, I see my cross. I embrace my cross as He embraced His cross. Why? Because by trying to be like Him in the cross, I show Him my love for Him and His sacrifice for the salvation of our souls.

 

[dove_of_peace]

Thank you, all!
Each one of your thoughful posts has helped elevate my mind to Jesus…they have helped me on my journey and I am so grateful to each one of you!

I still have so much to learn about my faith…may I never lose the graces to continue.

 

[John_Russell_Jr]

Thank you, all!
Each one of your thoughful posts has helped elevate my mind to Jesus…they have helped me on my journey and I am so grateful to each one of you!

I still have so much to learn about my faith…may I never lose the graces to continue.

Good luck on your journey. I offer these links re this author in case you don’t know them.
opusdei.org/
escrivaworks.org/