"The Cross is precious for many reasons..."

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MariaChristi

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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We continue pondering the words of St. Louis de Montfort’s book, “The Love of Eternal Wisdom” - Chapter. 14:
  1. If the knowledge of the mystery of the Cross is such a special grace, how great must be the enjoyment when one actually possesses it? This is a favour Eternal Wisdom bestows only on his best friends and only after they have prayed for it, longed for it, pleaded for it. However excellent is the gift of faith by which we please God, draw near to him and overcome our enemies, and without which we would be lost, the Cross is an even greater gift. “It was a greater happiness for St. Peter,” says St. John Chrysostom, “to be imprisoned for Jesus Christ than to be a witness of his glory on Mount Thabor; he was more glorious bound in chains than holding the keys of paradise in his hand.” (Acts 12.3-7; Mt 16.19) St. Paul esteemed it a greater glory to wear a prisoner’s chains for his Saviour than to be raised to the third heaven (Eph 3.1; 4.1; 2 Cor 12.2). God bestowed a greater favour on the Apostles and martyrs in giving them his Cross to carry in their humiliations, privations and cruel tortures than in conferring on them the gift of miracles or the grace to convert the world. All those to whom Eternal Wisdom gave himself have desired the Cross, sought after it, welcomed it. Whatever sufferings came their way, they exclaimed from the depths of their heart with St. Andrew, "O wonderful Cross, so long have I yearned for you!"
  2. The Cross is precious for many reasons:
    1. Because it makes us resemble Jesus Christ;
    2. Because it makes us worthy children of the eternal Father, worthy members of Jesus Christ, worthy temples of the Holy Spirit. “God the Father chastises every son he accepts;”(Heb 12.6) Jesus Christ accepts as his own only those who carry their crosses. The Holy Spirit cuts and polishes all the living stones of the heavenly Jerusalem, that is, the elect (cf 1 Pet 2.5; Apoc 21.2,10). These are revealed truths.
    3. The Cross is precious because it enlightens the mind and gives it an understanding which no book in the world can give. “He who has not been tried, what can he know?” (Sir 34.9)
    4. Because when it is well carried it is the source, the food and the proof of love. The Cross enkindles the fire of divine love in the heart by detaching it from creatures. It keeps this love alive and intensifies it; as wood is the food of flames, so the Cross is the food of love. And it is the soundest proof that we love God. The Cross was the proof God gave us of his love for us; and it is also the proof which God requires to show our love for him.
    5. The Cross is precious because it is an abundant source of every delight and consolation; it brings joy, peace and grace to our souls.
    6. The Cross is precious because it brings the one who carries it “a weight of everlasting glory.” (2 Cor 4.17)
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Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful. kindle in us, the Fire of Your Love! Jesus we trust in You, Mother Mary, pray for us.
 
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Dear ZMystiCat,

Thanks for your reply. Yes do “check it out”. If you click on the title, it is a “link” that will allow you to read this book online. Amazon still sells it in paperback if you prefer a copy of your own. I have a paperback copy and this is, at least, my third time reading it. Sharing it in small sections has been a blessing.

St. Louis de Montfort’s writing is not always appreciated, but I think it is because he is not read as prayerfully and carefully as he needs to be read. Although he wrote in the 1700’s and his style may not be compatible with modern styles of writing, he is steeped in the Truth of Scripture which remains the same in every age! 🙂

Thanks again for your reply and your willingness to learn more from St. Louis de Montfort – I believe he is a saint God intended for us to read especially in our time. As you read today, you can see how few people are writing or talking about how “precious” the Cross of Christ is!
 
MariaChristi said:
All those to whom Eternal Wisdom gave himself have desired the Cross, sought after it, welcomed it. Whatever sufferings came their way, they exclaimed from the depths of their heart with St. Andrew, “O wonderful Cross, so long have I yearned for you!”
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This is excellent!
 
MariaChristi said:
when it is well carried
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please notice this creates “a condition” that isn’t defined.
MariaChristi said:
the food and the proof of love. The Cross enkindles the fire of divine love in the heart by detaching it from creatures. It keeps this love alive and intensifies it; as wood is the food of flames, so the Cross is the food of love. And it is the soundest proof that we love God. The Cross was the proof God gave us of his love for us; and it is also the proof which God requires to show our love for him.
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Here we can notice the “poetic” nature of the text.

Real persons will have real problems in concrete circumstances. Helping in those circumstances requires addressing those circumstances.

[If you had a “real problem” and decided to write the church to the best of your ability and knowledge anything “even remotely” resembling St.Louis de Monfort’s writing would be dismissed as “not being dispassionate” - that is standard procedure. So you understand my dismay that retrospectively what appears to be “a spiritual lesson” fails at addressing “concrete problems”. And life is made of “concrete problems”, not of spiritual abstractions.]
 
Dear adgloriam,

Thanks for your reply. I read the “condition defined” in the continuing series of reasons why St. Louis found the Cross to be precious. I read the phrase “when it is well carried” in the context of the first 3 reasons given:
  1. Because it makes us resemble Jesus Christ – seemed to me to be connected to the next reason:
  2. Because it makes us worthy children of the eternal Father. worthy members of Jesus Christ, worthy temples of the Holy Spirit… which then brings us to the next reason:
  3. Because it enlightens the mind and gives it an understanding which no book in the world can give…
    4, Because when it is well carriedit is the source, the food and the proof of Love. It seems to me the condition is defined by the first 3 reasons and are not intended to be merely “poetic”. If one is growing in a resemblance to Christ, i.e. taking up the Cross as Christ did, that person is becoming more and more worthy as a child of God and is given an understand only God can give – the Cross becomes the source and the proof of Love.
Yes, real persons have had, and will have, real problems in concrete circumstances. Yet, It seems to me St. Louis de Montfort is writing to help persons in any and all circumstances of our human experiences on earth. St. Louis himself had to face many difficult situations and he found the Cross is truly “precious” as he describes in these paragraphs. I’ve had problems in my own life but my first action is to pray. My confidence is in God’s help and the intercession of Mary. Often God works through a member of the Church, but sometimes not. I have been helped by some good priests and lay persons – other clergy and lay people have not been so helpful.

I’m really sorry if you have been disappointed and experience dismay at what you’ve read, from St. Louis de Montfort, but I really have been blessed by his writing. My current re-reading of this particular book has been very helpful to me. I’m not sure my reply to you is of any help at all, but I trust God gave St. Louis His Grace to write this book to help person in his own day and in the days to come.
 
Hello @MariaChristi , it’s good to meet you again on the CAF threads.

Thank you for your reply, I appreciate it. I understand your reasons and I also think St.Louis de Montfort was inspired to write his book as to help others. I am happy that his book helps you, that you enjoy it.

I’m also happy your understood my reservations. You don’t have to defend the saint, he has enough defense. Just please think of the objections I raised should you come across someone needing help. Because those persons need help, not a “pious bystander” who does nothing…Of those “pious bystanders” who omit, the is church full.
 
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