The Sign of the Cross

Dedicated to the Holy Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Cruce Salus. -=:†:=- I was baptised on the feast of St John Joseph of the Cross in the Church of the Holy Cross, with my patroness being St Jeanne Jugan, also known as Marie de la Croix. Learning how to embrace my cross, and falling many times. May you learn how to love your crosses too. -=:†:=- Entered aspirancy with the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate on Marymas Day 2012, the Solemnity of the Assumption. Discerned as long as I could. -=:†:=- Other tumblogs: allthingscatholic catholic-philately tradcatproblems (with David) catholicbible (with Luisa) charmolypi (personal) Writer / Editor ignitumtoday.com totustuusapostolate.com dailydeclaration.org.au dads4kids.org.au/daily-dad newsweekly.com.au mercatornet.com/jeanseah -=:†:=- Law & liberal arts grad, native of a tropical Asian island known as the Lion City; living in the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit, whose first native saint is St Mary of the Cross (Mary MacKillop)! 我 靠 着 那 加 给 我 力 量 的 ， 凡 事 都 能 做 。 —Philippians 4:13

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Salvation isn’t complicated. Confess. Believe. Be saved. Romans 10:9 🤍

🤍 insta 🤍

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He will make a way 🤍

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The thief on the cross gets to paradise. An angel asks him “Why are you here?”

“Were you baptized?”

“No.”

“Did you do great works?”

“No. The opposite, really.”

“Did you follow the law perfectly?”

“No.”

“Then why are you here?”

“Because the man on the middle cross said I could come.”

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John 15:9 - As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

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[savedbychristsblood]

The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in you.

Inspired by Romans 8:11

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Crucifixion — Andrea Previtali (1515-1520)

The Clock of the Passion, or the Affectionate Reflections on the Sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, by St Alphonsus Marie de Liguori:

HOLY THURSDAY Hour 1 - 6:00 p.m. Jesus says good-bye to His Mother before the Supper. Hour 2 - 7:00 p.m. Jesus washes the feet of His Disciples, and institutes the Most Holy Sacrament. Hour 3 - 8:00 p.m. Jesus gives the Sermon of the Supper, and goes to the Garden of Olives. Hour 4 - 9:00 p.m. Jesus prays at the Garden. Hour 5 - 10:00 p.m. Jesus enters into His agony. Hour 6 - 11:00 p.m. Jesus sweats blood in His agony. Hour 7 - MIDNIGHT. Jesus is handed over by Judas, and bound.

GOOD FRIDAY Hour 8 - 1:00 a.m. Jesus is led to the house of Annas. Hour 9 - 2:00 a.m. Jesus is taken to the house of Caiaphas, and slapped. Hour 10 - 3:00 a.m. Jesus is blindfolded, mistreated and mocked. Hour 11 - 4:00 a.m. Jesus is dragged before the Great Council, and is judged worthy of death. Hour 12 - 5:00 a.m. Jesus is taken to Pilate, and accused. Hour 13 - 6:00 a.m. Jesus is mocked and ridiculed by Herod. Hour 14 - 7:00 a.m. Jesus is returned to Pilate, and Barabbas is preferred over Him. Hour 15 - 8:00 a.m. Jesus is cruelly scourged at the pillar. Hour 16 - 9:00 a.m. Jesus is crowned with thorns, and presented to the people. Hour 17 - 10:00 a.m. Pilate condemns Jesus to death, and begins His walk to Calvary. Hour 18 - 11:00 a.m. Jesus is stripped naked and His Crucifixion is commenced. Hour 19 - MIDDAY. Jesus is now crucified, and pleads for those who have crucified Him. Hour 20 - 1:00 p.m. Jesus commends His Spirit to the Father. Hour 21 - 2:00 p.m. Jesus undergoes His last hour of agony. Hour 22 - 3:00 p.m. Jesus dies [offer a moment of silence now], and is then pierced with the lance. Hour 23 - 4:00 p.m. Jesus is lowered from the Cross, and delivered to His Mother. Hour 24 - 5:00 p.m. Jesus is buried, and left in the Holy Sepulchre.

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Descent of Christ to Limbo – Andrea di Bonaiuto (1365-1368)

Limbo Sister Mary Ada, OSJ

The ancient greyness shifted Suddenly and thinned Like mist upon the moors Before a wind. An old, old prophet lifted A shining face and said: “He will be coming soon. The Son of God is dead; He died this afternoon.”

A murmurous excitement stirred All souls. They wondered if they dreamed – Save one old man who seemed Not even to have heard.

And Moses, standing, Hushed them all to ask If any had a welcome song prepared. If not, would David take the task? And if they cared Could not the three young children sing The Benedicite, the canticle of praise They made when God kept them from perishing In the fiery blaze?

A breath of spring surprised them, Stilling Moses’ words. No one could speak, remembering The first fresh flowers, The little singing birds. Still others thought of fields new ploughed Or apple trees All blossom-boughed. Or some, the way a dried bed fills With water Laughing down green hills. The fisherfolk dreamed of the foam On bright blue seas. The one old man who had not stirred Remembered home.

And there He was Splendid as the morning sun and fair As only God is fair. And they, confused with joy, Knelt to adore Seeing that He wore Five crimson stars He never had before.

No canticle at all was sung None toned a psalm, or raised a greeting song, A silent man alone Of all that throng Found tongue – Not any other. Close to His heart When the embrace was done, Old Joseph said, “How is Your Mother, How is Your Mother, Son?”

[catholic-philately]

The Mocking of Christ — Matthias Grünewald (1505)

Saint Veronica — Rogier van der Weyden (1445)

The Crucifixion — Raphael (1503)

The Resurrection — Piero della Francesca (1465)

The Disrobing of Christ — El Greco (1579)

The Crucifixion (detail) — Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen (c. 1507–1510)

Christ on the Cross between the Two Thieves — Peter Paul Rubens (1620)

The Resurrection — Dieric Bouts (1455)

Aitutaki, Easter 1973

[signum-crucis]

Whether remembered in pious devotions or theatrical performances, the drama of Christ is perennially relevant to man. The sufferings of Jesus give us hope, for they illustrate how much Our Lord cherishes us. 

If this profound story ended in death, of course, it would be an unbearable narrative. Providentially, the Great Drama has a happy ending. 

Christ is not conquered by death but overcomes it, so that death might not conquer us, so that for us death might have no sting. 

Perhaps this is partly why we revisit the dramatic scene of the Crucifixion every Lent. Story and song awaken us to its hidden sweetness. 

It is in this moment, on the stage of life, that we can again choose to embrace the Cross of Christ, so that our hope in His resurrection might be renewed… so that we may one day share in the glorious finale of His victory in the joys of heaven.

— "The Great Drama: Catholic Traditions of Holy Week", Good Catholic

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Internal bleeding from severe shoulder injury caused death of Jesus Christ, says doctor-turned-priest - Catholic Herald

Jesus died from a heart attack brought on by fatal internal bleeding from a ruptured artery in his shoulder, a doctor-turned-priest has said

O Loving Jesus, Meek Lamb of God, I, a miserable sinner, salute and worship the most sacred wound of Thy shoulder on which Thou didst bear Thy heavy cross, which so tore Thy flesh and laid bare Thy bones as to inflict on Thee an anguish greater than any other wound of thy most blessed body. I adore Thee, O Jesus most sorrowful; I praise and glorify Thee and give Thee thanks for this most sacred and painful wound, beseeching Thee by that exceeding pain and by the crushing burden of Thy heavy cross, to be merciful to me, a sinner, to forgive me all my mortal and venial sins and to lead me on towards Heaven along the Way of Thy Cross. Amen.

[traumacatholic]

“During Holy Week the Church lives again the passion and death of Christ. On the first day, Palm Sunday, the solemn entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is celebrated by the blessing of palms (1), followed by a solemn procession. At the Mass of this day, as on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, the story of the Passion (3) from each Evangelist is read. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of Holy Week the Tenebrae are celebrated: the fifteen candles are put out one by one, to symbolize the flight of the disciples (2), and the death of Our Lord. On Holy Thursday morning a pontifical Mass is celebrated, in cathedrals only; at this the holy oils (4) are blessed. Commemorating the Last Supper at which the Holy Eucharist and the Priesthood were instituted, Holy Thursday Mass takes place in the evening, with the washing of feet (5) to commemorate Christ’s washing of the Apostles’ feet. At the Good Friday service, emphasis is given to the veneration of the cross (6) . Holy Saturday services are held at night, beginning with the blessing of the new fire (7); from this the Paschal candle is lighted (9), a reminder of Christ, Light of the world. The five grains of incense imbedded in the candle remind us of His wounds. Four Lessons (10) are read; the baptismal water is blessed and taken to the font (8). The Mass commemorates, Our Lord’s glorious Resurrection (11).“

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The pilgrimage through the Sacred Triduum into the jubilant Easter Octave is not merely a reminiscence of Christ’s Passion and resurrection

"Edith teaches us that to be chosen for the Cross is to be drawn into the deepest intimacy with Christ. She did not flee her path but followed Him to the end, trusting that authentic love is proven on the Cross, not abandoned."