“In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen”
A simple action that Catholics make when beginning a prayer and entering a church. But, this is also a tremendous offering of praise.
Every time we make a sign of the cross as Catholics, we are calling to mind the passion and death of our Lord. We are also marking and sealing ourselves by His Holy Cross.
“We Adore You, O Christ, and We Praise You. Because by Your Holy Cross, You Have Redeemed the World.” The Stations of the Cross
I sit here this evening praying for each of you. I know that many of you are carrying heavy burdens. Life has left you with lashes and pains. It has crowned you with many sorrows. Many have had people come through their lives who have acted as the centurions did to Christ, mocking, scorning and hateful.
I offer up the magnificence of the cross for each of you as I pray through this post. The cross did not destroy Christ, it made Him stronger and set us free. “We Adore You, O Christ, and We Praise You. Because by Your Holy Cross, You Have Redeemed the World.” What is looked at with scorn by the world today is the sign of our redemption and freedom.
So, I ask each of you today as you read this to stop what you are doing and make the sign of the cross offering up all your sorrows and rejections. All your bad relationships and difficulties to His Cross. Ask for strength and faith to lead those who hate and mock you to the cross by carrying this as your cross to His Glory. Go ahead, offer this all up to the cross of the Redeemer and let Him purify it – and make the sign of the cross. Go ahead, I’ll wait.
“In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen”
Every time we make this sign, we are offering a prayer of praise to God for the love He has for us in sending His Beloved Son to die for us. We remember and memorialize this act of love and seal it to our souls. We draw upon the power of our baptism to make all things new.
I challenge each of you to offer up one challenge per hour of every day with the sign of the cross. Just stop, spend a moment to think of a personal challenge of one someone else is facing and then make the sign of the cross.
“In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen”
“Oh, the wondrous Cross Where the Prince of Glory died Oh, the glorious Cross Where Your mercy bled for us You overcame the grave, waking to a world You saved Oh, the wondrous Cross Now You’re my resting place When trouble I must face I won’t be overwhelmed Jesus, Your love has won And my faith looks up to Thee Sweet Lamb of Calvary” The Wondrous Cross by Christy Nockels
Just 2 days until Praise Nation “Coming Home”. Come Home to the church and the sacraments in praise and joy. October 17, 5:30pm at St. Albert the Great in Pittsburgh. Celebrated in the parking lot – bring lawn chairs or sit in your car if you desire. Join us in praise!