The Cross is the narrow gate that allows us to enter into the Most Holy Humanity of Jesus and share in the infinite gifts that it bestows upon souls who are grateful to God, to Him" Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!." (Phil. 2:6-8)
The Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta helps us discover the value and richness of the Cross that Jesus embraced in order to meet man who is lost and far from the Light of God's Will, to bring him back to the safe harbor of salvation and sanctification.
“Adored Cross, finally I embrace you” Jesus said when he took up the cross, which bore not only the weight of a wooden cross, but a cross laden with the sins of all humanity, past, present, and future.
A Cross as long as the centuries and as wide as human generations.
On the day of the Exaltation of the Cross, Jesus gave Luisa the gift of sharing in the sufferings of His Passion. This mystical experience she had leads us to reflect on the Love with which the Cross transforms the hearts of those who associate themselves with the Passion of Our Lord and share in the sufferings of the bloody Fiat that Jesus said in the Garden of Gethsemane:
“.. Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, let your will be done, not mine' (Luke 22:42).
Jesus says to those who recognize the good that the Cross produces, in whatever form it presents itself to us: “My beloved, do you want to be beautiful? The cross will give you the most beautiful features that can possibly be found, both in Heaven and on earth; so much so, as to enamor God, who contains all beauties within Himself. Do you want to be filled with immense riches - not for a short time, but for all eternity? Well then, the cross will administer to you all kinds of riches - from the littlest pennies, which are the small crosses, up to the greatest amounts, which are the heavier crosses. Yet, men are so greedy to earn a temporal nickel, which they will soon have to leave, but do not give a thought to earning one eternal penny. And when I, having compassion for them, in seeing their carelessness for all that regards eternity, kindly offer them the opportunity - instead of cherishing it, they get angry and offend Me. What human madness – it seems that they understand it upside down. My beloved, in the cross are all the triumphs, all the victories, and the greatest gains. As for you, you must have no other aim than the cross, and this will be enough for you, in everything.” (Vol 1-September 14, 1899)
Furthermore, in another passage, Jesus states:
“The cross is my flowery bed, not because I did not suffer harrowing spasms, but because by means of the cross I delivered many souls to grace, and I could see many beautiful flowers bloom, which would produce many celestial fruits. So, in seeing so much good, I held that bed of suffering as my delight, and I delighted in the cross and in suffering. You too, my daughter - take pains as delights, and delight in being crucified on my cross. No, no, I do not want you to fear suffering, almost wanting to act like a sluggard. Up, courage, be brave, and, of your own, expose yourself to suffering.” (Volume 3, May 1, 1900)
The preciousness and infinite value of the Cross embraced by Christ the Redeemer is always to be rediscovered, and this happens as we experience it. Luisa, out of love for Jesus, lay down on the bed of the Cross; for about seventy years she shared the pains of the Cross with the Spouse of her soul, receiving the benefit of purification and unifying her will with the Divine Will.
“When two wills are opposed to each other, one forms the cross of the other. So it is between Me and the creatures: when their wills are opposed to Mine, I form their cross and they form Mine; I am the long beam of the cross, while they are the short one, and crossing each other, they form the cross. Now, when the will of the soul unites with Mine, the beams are no longer crossed, but united, and therefore the cross is no longer a cross. Have you understood? And besides, I sanctified the cross; it was not the cross that sanctified Me. It is not the cross that sanctifies - it is the resignation to my Will that sanctifies the cross; therefore, even the cross can do as much good insofar as it is connected with my Will. Not only this; the cross sanctifies and crucifies part of the person, while my Will does not spare anything; it sanctifies everything, and crucifies thoughts, desires, will, affections, heart - everything. And since my Will is light, It shows to the soul the necessity of this sanctification…”(Volume 11, November 18, 1913)
“When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself”. (Jn 12:32)
Contemplating Jesus, Crucified Love, should lead us not to stray from His loving and merciful Will. In fact, the Divine Will desires to make man a participant in His divine Happiness, as at the moment of creation.
“I look at Jesus, passionate from head to toe, covered in wounds, dripping with blood... and I feel myself falling in love, becoming passionate... My Love, my Jesus, pierce my heart with the spear of Passion so that I may meditate on Your sufferings and those of Your Mother Mary. Pierce, pierce my heart...
My Love is crucified, and I too want to be crucified, embracing the Cross, suffering for the love of my Good!... My Mother, I want to share in your sorrows, to be your daughter and the spouse of Jesus crucified.
O Jesus, may Your Will be blessed. It calls me to share in Your sufferings! My heart is torn apart when I think of Jesus' sufferings! I want to die embracing the Crucified One!
Love! O Jesus! (Jesus, All Love”)
Fiat
(From the reflections of Sister Assunta Marigliano)