Novena Day 8
Love of the Cross
No one in his/her right mind would embrace the cross freely. No one would love the cross for its sake. There is a deep mystery in the cross. God invites us to see the other face of the cross. It is love. The cross cannot stand alone on its own without the face of love. The cross will only find meaning in love. Loving the cross also means having a faith so deep and profound in the good God – to know He will never leave us in suffering. He is there carrying the cross with us.
Reflection:
On Oct 16, 2016, Pope Francis canonized a 14-year-old martyr – St. José Sánchez del Río. This Mexican boy, together with many laypeople suffered death to defend the right to religious freedom in his country. Due to his age, he was initially prevented from joining the Cristero rebel movement but his persistence won his desire to give his life completely to Christ. He was assigned as the troop’s flagbearer.
During one clash between the Cristero troops and the federal forces, José saved one of the leaders of his army, the Cristero leader Guizar Morfín. Morfin’s horse was killed and he was in danger of being captured. José, seeing his predicament, quickly got off his horse and handed him to his general: “My general,” he said, “take my horse and save yourself. You are more needed by this cause than I am.”
General Guizar Morfín managed to escape, but the federal troops captured José, taking him to the town of Cotija, beating and rebuking him along the way. “We’re going to see how much of a man you really are,” they told him.
Many witnessed José’s faith in the prison as he prayed the Rosary daily and “was ready to do God’s will, emphasizing this in a heart-wrenching letter to his mother.” The captors eventually tortured him, offered him life if he was to deny his faith but José chose to walk his Calvery with every step screaming, “I will never give in. Viva Cristo Rey!”
This young Saint has taught the world that somethings are worth fighting for and it is good to be relentless in our pursuit for the common good. For José it began from his desire for religious freedom. What about us? How are we affected by what we experience? Will we choose Christ and his values for a better world today? What is the cross that God is asking you to embrace for the sake of love?
Let us pray with St. Thérèse Couderc today as she too begged for “the strength to suffer and love of the cross that makes us suffer.” But most of all, we trust that God will proportion our sufferings to our courage.
Stories of St. José Sánchez del Río are adapted from :
https://denvercatholic.org/st-jose-de-jesus-sanchez-del-rio-boy-died-love-christ-king/