A Prayer Of Praise Of The Holy Cross
SERMON XX
OF DAILY TAKING UP THE CROSS EMBRACED IN RELIGION
GOD forbid that I should glory: save in the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Beloved brethren, blessed Paul the glorious beholder of heavenly secrets, shows us in the above words of the holy cross, the right path of a good life; a most excellent doctrine for bearing adversity: a most firm ladder to rise to Heaven by the ever unconquered sign of the holy cross. For this leads its lovers into the country of eternal light, of eternal peace and eternal bliss; which the world cannot give, nor the devil take away. Human weakness dreads to suffer poverty, abjection, lowliness, hunger, toil, pain, distress, mockery, which things often befall, and grieve and disturb a man: but all these things joined together, sent to us by a dispensation of God, form a saving cross by manifold suffering: and open to true cross-bearers, who take up their cross, the gate of the heavenly kingdom, make ready the palm of life for them that combat: and bestow on the conquerors the crown of everlasting glory.
O truly blessed cross of Christ, which hast merited to bear the King of Heaven: and hast brought the joy of salvation to the whole world. By thee the devils are routed, the sick are healed: the fearful are comforted, the vicious are purified, the slothful are aroused; the proud are humbled, the hard are touched: and the devout are watered with tears. Blessed those who daily recall the Passion of Christ: and desire to carry their cross after Christ. Good and religious brothers standing under obedience in daily affliction of the body and in resignation of their own will have now a cross outwardly hard and bitter; but within full of sweetness: because of the hope of eternal salvation, and the inflowing of divine consolation promised to the troubled of heart. And if they do not constantly feel this, or find that it comes but slowly; nevertheless they must await with patience: and abandon themselves to the divine will. For He knows best the time for mercy and the manner of succouring the distressed: as a physician knows the art of healing: and a master the skill of ruling and the hour for reading. Interior bearers of the cross have great confidence and reason for glorying in the cross of Jesus Christ; for they do not trust and presume to be saved of their own merits and works: but of the mercy of God and the merits of Jesus Christ crucified for our sins; in Whom they faithfully believe, and heartily love: Whom they confess with the mouth, praise, preach, honour, and bless.
God is wont is prove His familiar friends by the holy cross whether they truly or feignedly seek and love Him: and whether they perfectly keep His commandments. But they are especially proved by the sufferance of wrongs, and the withdrawal of interior consolations: by the death of friends and the loss of things: by achings of the head and injuries of the limbs: by abstinence from food and coarseness of attire; by the hardness of bed and coldness of feet; by long watchings at night, and labours by day: by silence of the mouth, and the corrections of superiors: by biting worms and detracting tongues. But amidst these things they are comforted by devout meditation on the Lord’s Passion: as it has been in secret made manifest to many devout. For it is theirs to taste the honey hidden in the rock: and the oil of mercy distilling from the blessed wood of the holy cross: whose savour is most excellent, odour most sweet, touch most wholesome, fruit most happy. O truly most worthy and most precious tree of life, planted in the midst of the Church for the healing of the soul. O Jesus of Nazareth crucified; Thou dost loose the chains of sinners: dost free the souls of the saints, dost humble the necks of the proud: dost crush the might of the wicked, dost strengthen the faithful: dost put unbelievers to flight, dost lift up the pious; dost scourge the obstinate, dost overcome our foes: dost raise up the bruised, dost deliver the oppressed; dost strike the guilty, dost protect the innocent: dost love the truthful, dost hate the lying; dost despise the carnal, dost regard the spiritual: dost receive them that come to Thee, dost conceal them that flee to Thee. Thou dost hear them that call upon Thee: dost rejoice them that visit Thee; dost aid them that seek Thee: dost comfort them that cry to Thee. Thou honourest them that honour Thee: praisest them that praise Thee; lovest them that love Thee: glorifiest them that worship Thee; blessest them that bless Thee: exaltest them that exalt Thee: Thou lookest on them that look to Thee: kissest them that kiss Thee: embracest them that embrace Thee: leadest them to Heaven that follow Thee.
But woe to the lovers of the world, who do not heed the footsteps of Christ: nor walk by the way of the holy cross; but to fulfil their desires: heap up gold and silver: which they can by no means carry with them. Wo to the proud and great in their own eyes: who spurn the humility of the devout, deride simplicity: call poverty misery, make little account of obedience; drive patience from them, keep chastity ill: and live in a manner contrary to the Crucified. Wo to the nice and particular, who nurse their flesh too much and adorn it outwardly with raiment: and neglect their soul and stain it with sins. Wo to the avaricious and ambitious; who for earthly goods and honours labour much and often quarrel: and for heavenly goods and everlasting joys are able to do and suffer little. Therefore they often on a sudden lose the things of earth: and they gain not those of Heaven. For no man can rejoice here with the world: and reign there with Christ crucified for us. The servant is not greater than his lord nor the disciple above his master: Whom it behoved to suffer the cross, and so enter into His glory And assuredly after the most fleeting joys of this life: follow eternal lamentations. And then they shall be cruelly tormented in fire and sulphur: who now eat daintily and plentifully: and drink wine with laughter and pleasure. except you do penance.” saith the Lord: “you shall all likewise perish.”
There are mortal men who do not consider their fraility nor think of the baseness of the clay whence they were made: but glory in the nobility of their race: swell with pride over wealthy parents, are puffed up for their knowledge and art, presume of their strength and beauty: exult in power and place, are lifted up because of their ornate and diversified garments: rejoice in the publicity and fame of their name, take pleasure in the visits of friends; are saddened at the loss of their honour: are tortured at the success and promotion of others their rivals. But alas, all these things carefully examined and truly weighed: are vain, and worth no esteem: for suddenly they shall fail, and be reduced to nothing. sooth all flesh is grass; and all worldly state falls as the flower of the field, withers and rots: and becomes as if it had never been here.
There are also many others intent on vain amusements, at variance with the sign of Christ’s cross: and far removed in their ways and actions from the fellowship of the saints. Who as if mad rejoice in the various shows of the world, in psalteries and citherns, bugles and organs: run and dance with their feet, clap with their hands: sing with their voices, laugh with their teeth; and for merriment of heart scarcely contain themselves in the motions of their body: because they set their supreme good in present amusements and pleasures. Which if it were lasting and acceptable to God: would be very desirable and praiseworthy. But, alas, how greatly men are deceived, both kings and princes of the people: rejoicing in the vanities of this world. For vanity is every man living, passing as a shadow: and as the dew that goeth away in the morning. O how far these are from the supreme good, from the sweetness of God, from the melodies of the angels: from the paths of the just, from the holiness of religious: and from the spiritual joy of the devout. It shall come, it shall come speedily upon them, death, before they know it, who now rejoice as if they were safe: and all amusements and song shall cease in their houses and streets. And the poor shall rejoice, and the weak and despised of this world, with all true crossbearers, lovers of Christ: who have crcuified their flesh with the vices and concupiscences in this world: that they may not be condemned with the wicked in the judgement to come.
Wo also to wandering and dissipated monks, religious only in name and habit; who carry their cross with murmuring and obey unwillingly: keep their cell ill, easily break silence; shun toil, love idleness: shorten prayers, lengthen gossip: ready for exterior things, slow to interior; drowsy in meditating good things, inclined to think of evil: cheerful for eating and drinking, sorry to fast: easy in finding fault, weak for endurance; desirous of honours, ashamed of things lowly: disliking strictness of discipline, and always inclined to greater laxity. But alack, good God, that the children of this world are more prudent and eager in acquiring, increasing and preserving earthly things: than the children of light and the servants of the holy cross in gathering virtues and rooting out vices. O would that all would be wise and understand how delightful it is to be engaged in devout exercises, to search the hidden things of scripture: to meditate the words and works of Christ, often to read, often to pray, to ponder the things read and heard; daily to recall the favours of God: for all good gifts and creatures, even for the least to give thanks to God; ever to aim at better things, to sigh for heavenly: and to drive far from the heart all the things of earth. Of how holy it is to stand in careful guard over the heart: to shut out wanderings by fervent prayer and pure meditation; to conquer the imagery of the world by the image of the crucified: to drive away the temptations of the devil with the holy cross, the nails, and the lance: to quench the motions of the flesh with thorns and cutting scourges; to bear wrongs done with a patient soul, to reckon losses and reproaches a gain to the soul: and all present burdens to weigh as most light for the love of Christ. For attentively to think of these things and the like, and to strive to put them in practice, is to take up the cross: and to glory in the cross of Christ, and not in the flesh. For from the sweet wood of the cross, a sweet odour of heavenly grace breathes; which drives away all worldly joys, quenches all delights of the flesh: keeps down elation of the heart, brings the gifts of interior comfort to the sad; affords strength to them that suffer wrong: calms anxious souls in divers ways by the words and examples of Christ.
O religious brother, why art thou sad and complainest of the weight of thy cross in long watchings, in many fasts, in toil and silence, in obedience and severe discipline: which have been profitably instituted by the holy fathers under the inspiration of God for thy progress and salvation of soul; that thou mayest walk thereby in safety and prudence: who canst not well and virtuously govern thyself. Dost think that thou in preference to all the saints shalt enter the kingdom of heaven without the cross and sorrow: a thing which Christ neither could nor would, and which none of His dearest friends and saints obtained? For He Himself said: “Christ ought to suffer: and so enter into His glory.” Thou art certainly mistaken in thy judgement: nor dost thou heed Christ’s footsteps shown to thee: Who by the cross passed from this world to His heavenly Father. Ask any one of the conquerors and citizens of the heavenly kingdom: how he came to possess for ever this glory of God. Was it not through the cross and suffering? Ah, beloved brethren, take the yoke of the Lord upon you, sweet and light to them that love; embrace with desire the holy cross flourishing in all virtues, full of heavenly unction: that it may lead you securely with the hope of glory unto life everlasting. What more do you want? This is the way and no other; the straight way, the holy way, the perfect way: the way of Christ, the way of the just, the way of the chosen ones who are to be saved. Walk therein, persevere therein; endure therein, live therein: die therein, expire therein. The cross of Christ overcomes all the wiles of the devil: the cross draws to it the hearts of all the faithful; the cross destroys all evils, and bestows upon us all goods: through Jesus Christ Who hung and died thereon. There is no armour so strong nor arrow so keen and terrible against the power and fury of the devil, which he fears so much as the sign of the holy cross: whereon he made the Son of God to be hanged and slain: Who was guiltless and pure of all blemish. O truly blessed cross of Christ most worthy of all honour, to be embraced with all love, to lovers light unto bearing burdens, to the sad comforting unto the endurance of reproaches, to the penitent indulgent unto the remission of debts for all offences. This is to the holy angels very honourable; to men very loveable, to demons most terrible, despised of the proud, acceptable to the humble: hard to the carnal, sweet to the spiritual, tasteless to the foolish, tender to the devout, affable to the poor, companionable to the wayfarer, friendly to the afflicted, consoling to the sick, comforting to the dying. Store up then in the secret place of your heart all the sacred wounds of Jesus; which savour above all spices to the devout soul living in grief: and not seeking outwardly solace from men. Weigh also the sorrows of the blessed virgin Mother of Jesus standing by the cross; how many tears she then shed to intimate compassion with the many women weeping with her: that she also may be mindful of you in your distresses. Follow Christ by His Passion and cross which lead to eternal rest and light; for if now you are the companions of His tribulation: you shall hereafter be with Him fellows of the heavenly table and everlasting exultation.
Plant in the little garden of your memory the tree of the holy cross: bearing a powerful medicine against all the fatal suggestions of the devil. For the root of this most noble and most happy tree is humility and poverty: its bark toil and penance: its branches mercy and justice: its leaves truth and doctrine: its flowers probity and modesty: its odour, temperance and abstinence; its beauty, chastity and obedience: its glory, a right faith and a strong hope: its strength, magnanimity and patience: its length, longanimity and perseverance: its breadth, gentleness and concord: its height, charity and wisdom: its sweetness love and joy, its fruit salvation and life eternal. Well therefore and worthily in holy Church is it sung of the sacred cross: that no wood produces such a tree, full of leaf, flower, seed. Yea, not even in the gardens of Solomon is found such a kind, nor a herb so powerful for the remedy of every sickness: as the tree of the holy cross bearing spices of divine virtue unto the restoration of man’s salvation. This is the most fruitful tree, blessed above all the trees of Paradise; reaching out with most beautiful branches, adorned with green leaves: extended through the world in its most abundant fruits; touching the heavens with its height: penetrating hell with its depth: in its breadth embracing mountains and hills: in its greatness filling the whole earth: in its strength overcoming wicked kings and persecutors of the faith: in its piety drawing the feeble, in its sweetness healing sinners. This is the God-bearing vine, the fruitful olive: the sweet fig-tree, rough without, as honey within; planted in the house of God, rooted in humility, proved in patience: consummated in obedience, confirmed in charity. This is the beautiful palm, worthily called the Christ-bearer, borne on the shoulder of Jesus, raised on high on Mount Calvary; condemned by the Jews, defaced by the Gentiles: insulted by the wicked, denied by the faithless; lamented by the faithful, invoked by the pious: much loved by the devout, supremely reverenced by the religious. This was shown from Heaven to the Emperor Constantine: diligently sought by the holy queen Helena: and found with great joy. This was lovingly embraced by the same noble worshipper of Christ, watered with a tearful face: and most affectionately kissed with pure lips. This now by the marvellous dispensation of God in many places is resplendent with signs and powers: this is adored, sought and honoured by kings and princes of the world, by all the clergy and people: and is worshipped and reverenced with greater devotion by all the faithful of Christ for all the wounds and insults wrought it by the wicked. Nevertheless, by the hidden design and providence of God: all these things were done and ordained for the salvation of the world. This often touches the devout soul with the affection of pious compassion: often makes the tears flow when she looks upon the image of the Crucified: often wounds the heart of the lover, when he thinks of Christ wounded for him. Happy man and faithful servant he: who constantly bears the sacred wounds of Jesus in his heart: and whatever adversity befalls him, accepts it from the hand of God and patiently endures: that he may be made like to the Crucified, at least in a little. For he is worthy to be visited and consoled by Christ: who endeavours to conform himself fully to His Passion in life and in death. This is the way of the holy cross, this the teaching of our Saviour; this the wisdom of the saints, this the rule of monks, this the life of the good: this the reading of clerics, this the meditation of the devout, humbly to imitate Christ: for Christ to suffer ills, to take bitter for sweet: to spurn honours, equably to endure contempt: to abstain from evil pleasures, to shun occasions of vice, to avoid dissipations: to mourn for his own and others’ shortcomings, to pray for the afflicted and tempted: to rejoice over them that do well, to sympathize with them that endure wrongs, to succour the needy; not to desire lofty things, to choose the lowly, to love the simple: to cut off the superfluous, to be content with little: to labour for virtue, to struggle daily against vice: to master the flesh by fast, to strengthen the spirit by prayer and reading: to refuse human praise, to seek solitude, to love silence: to take leisure in God, to sigh for heavenly things: to despise from the heart all earthly things: to deem nothing his comfort besides God. This one is able to say with blessed Paul the apostle: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” And again: “It behoves me to glory in the cross of my Lord Jesus Christ: by whom this world is crucified to me and I to the world.” O religious monk and follower of a strict life: do not depart from the cross embraced in the Order; but bear and carry the cross even unto death: and thou shalt find eternal rest, heavenly honour and glory. When any trouble befalls thee, then Christ meets thee with the cross: and shows thee the way by which thou shouldst go to the heavenly kingdom. But if a man glories and hopes in the wealth and honours of this world, truly he is deceived: and he shall carry nothing with him of all the things that he was wont to love in the world. But he who glories in the cross of Christ and despises all things for Christ’s sake: he again shall be comforted by Christ now: and hereafter he shall be filled with heavenly goods: and without end with Christ and all the saints shall most happily rejoice. Which may Jesus Christ deign to grant us, Who suffered on the cross and died for us: to Whom be eternal praise and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
AN EXAMPLE CONCERNING THE HOLY CROSS
There was with us a certain laic named Nicholas Peters: born in the country of Holland. He by the inspiration of God resolved in his soul to leave the world, although he was a good carpenter: and to enter our monastery. When therefore he was alone in the way and was coming near the monastery: by the snares and temptation of the devil he commenced to be anxious and to be much afraid: without knowing what was opposing him in the good road, while the sun was still shining brightly. Standing therefore and asking himself what he should do, when he saw that there was nobody there: he began to think that perhaps the devil wanted to hinder him: to prevent him going on further to the monastery. Looking round therefore on this side and on that, he saw at a distance as it were a little black cloud rise from the earth, and gradually grow bigger and higher: and move as if driven by the wind. Being therefore very much frightened, and guessing that Satan was striving to obstruct his path, that he might not fulfil his purpose: at once raising his hand he made the sign of the holy cross: and armed his forehead with the saving sign. And so casting away fear and strengthened in a strong faith: again signing his forehead with the cross he went forward bravely. And when he had done this, that diabolical phantasy not being able to endure the power of the holy cross, and as if shunning a sharp arrow shot against it, turned aside from the path: and soon vanishing like smoke entirely disappeared. Then made very joyful he boldly entered our monastery dedicated in honour of St. Agnes virgin: which commencing at that time in great poverty was known to few. Living here many years after this, in honour of the holy cross he fasted every Friday: and even when wearied with great labours at harvest time, he never dispensed the fast of the holy cross: but most constantly fulfilled his purpose, which he had well commenced.
ANOTHER
There was a certain Lay-sister by name Margaret devout to God in the Order of Sisters Regular: who, assigned to the office of cook as a faithful Martha: strove to serve Christ and the sisters humbly, as long as she was able. On one occasion then a pan of oil had been placed over the fire which was burning: and she busied with her work was not far away. And when she saw that the oil was boiling too much and its froth rising high: fearing that it would spill and be consumed by the fire: she ran quickly to the stove. And when she had made the sign of the holy cross over it; at once the swelling of the froth subsided to the bottom: as if she had thrown cold water in. Seeing which her companion marvelled; and afterwards made known this fact to others.
ANOTHER
A certain woman of Kempen went to the town market: to buy herself and her servants a little milk. Having bought it, she hastened to return home: holding in her hand the milk jug which she had brought with her. While on the way then, she felt a desire to drink of the milk: and bending down she sat upon the ground. And so taking the jug in her hand, she made on herself the sign of the cross before she should drink; and at once the jug cracked at the bottom: and the milk escaping to the ground flowed out in streams. Seeing this, very much terrified she arose; and thinking over what marvel had befallen her: by this she clearly recognized the power of the holy cross. And some hearing what had happened: said: “Perhaps if this woman had not signed herself with the sign of the holy cross: she would have drunk in the devil with the milk.” It is good therefore first to bless food and drink with the sign of the holy cross: lest any evil befall a man from the vice of gluttony, by which the devil too often tempts and takes many captive.
ANOTHER
Two religious Brothers having received leave were walking together not far beyond the monastery gate: to return after an hour to their cell the friend of devotion. While therefore they were talking together of different topics pleasing to them: there chimed in also from want of watchfulness over the mouth a word of detraction concerning the actions of their Prior by the instigation of the malevolent spirit. Then suddenly there appeared to them a black horse very terrible coming with speed towards them in their walk: and as if wishing to rush upon them as they conversed. And they, dreadfully afraid, at once arming themselves with the sign of the holy cross, with hastened steps fled to the monastery gate: and thus escaped the danger of the most fierce enemy by the sign of the holy cross. And they said: “We have done ill: speaking idle and detracting words of others. Therefore so dreadful a monster came upon us: that we may be on our guard in future against the most wicked sin of detraction hateful to all.”
ANOTHER
A certain brother wearied out with labour, when late in the evening he set himself to sleep: neglected to sign himself as usual with the sign of the holy cross against the fear of the foe. For overcome quickly by sleep: he did not arm himself with the sign of the saving cross. Afterwards he was so terribly frightened in his sleep by the old enemy of the human race: that he cried out with a loud voice for fear: and awakening trembled with great wonder. Then he remembered that on the previous evening he had not signed himself with sufficient care with the accustomed standard of the holy cross: and therefore the malevolent foe was so savagely troublesome to him that night. Returning therefore fully to himself, having called upon the saving name of Jesus, he signed himself with the cross; and devoutly recited the prayer of the holy cross: and so falling asleep again, he rested securely in the peace of Christ. And on account of this happening through the sign of the holy cross: he thinks that no place of the world is safe from the terror of the enemy without the cross of Christ.
ANOTHER
A certain good man saw in a dream the image of the holy cross standing near him. And first it stood before him and faced him: but afterwards standing behind him it struck him on the back and departed. Being much terrified and puzzled over this: he made known to a certain devout priest what he had seen. Who weighing the vision and not thinking it vain: said to the troubled man: “Perhaps Our Lord wishes to try you: and to put some burden on you to bear. You should make ready then your back to bear the cross lovingly with Him: for He scourges every son whom He loveth.” With these words the man was consoled, trusting himself to God: Who does naught except for the best. And not long afterwards, there came upon him tribulation and the contempt of men: which the cross seen before in sleep foreshadowed. But he being carefully forewarned disposed himself to patience: and after a worthy trial he closed his life with a good end.
ANOTHER
A certain devout Brother strove to exercise himself in the Lord’s Passion in preference to the other sacred books: and held the image of the holy cross in great veneration. And wherever he saw a cross, humbly bowing he took pleasure in signing himself +: mindful of his God crucified for him, Whom he desired to love and honour. One night then he saw in a vision a certain image of the holy cross hanging on the wall of a certain church: most cruelly torn with many wounds and blows. And looking upon it with exceeding great sorrow: with bowed knees and joined hands he suppliantly worshipped. And at once the image stretched out to him its right arm from the cross: and offered him its right hand. And while he wondered much at such great condescension: it was said to him: “This for the honour which thou hast shown Me on the cross.” Thenceforth a very great devotion commenced to grow in his heart towards the image of the holy cross: and it became very sweet to him daily to meditate, read and pray on the Passion of the Lord.
A PRAYER OF PRAISE OF THE HOLY CROSS
O most sweet and most loving cross of my Lord Jesus Christ, exceedingly sad and bitter without: but within full of divine sweetness. O tree beautiful and bright: adorned with the members of Christ as with precious jewels. O fruitful vine: pierced with cruel nails. O lovely olive, coloured with the blood of Christ: hallowed by the water of His side. O tree of life: bearing the King of glory for the salvation of the world. O cross, impregnable buckler, incomparable standard of the King, admirable symbol of salvation: on the title-head having this writing: Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews. Hail Jesus of Nazareth, praise of the angels, life of the blessed: pardon of sinners, salvation of all the peoples. O saving cross foreseen and chosen from eternity: thou art beautified with the flowers of all virtues, thou art worthily worshipped: thou art resplendent with miracles, thou aboundest in fruits of eternal salvation: thou art redolent above all spices, thou dost heal diseases of body and soul: thou dost open Heaven to the just, thou dost bring forgiveness to sinners; thou dost rout the devil, thou dost crush hell: thou dost free captives, thou dost beatify the redeemed. O cross, tree most glorious, blessed above all the woods of the groves; thou art more lofty than the cedar, more wide-spreading than the palm, more fragrant than the cypress, more noble than the balsam, more fruitful than the vine, more rich than the olive: more sweet than the fig, more fresh than the box, stronger than the oak: more lovely than the rose, whiter than the lily. O cross most brilliant, higher than the sun, brighter than the stars, purer than the moon: more sparkling than gems, more precious than stones, more valuable than gold, better than silver, more efficacious than the spiknard, more wholesome than all spices and medicines.
O cross most lovable, supremely venerable: be to me a sinner kind and propitious: the guide of a good life, the light of a right path; a defender from the foe; a deliverer in the awful judgement: and a loving welcomer into the kingdom above. Assist me in my agony, strengthen me in faith, grant hope of pardon, pour charity into my heart: and grant me to pass with a happy end from this world: that through thee He may receive me, Who hung on thee and redeemed me: Jesus Christ our Lord: Who with the Father.
The world praises its lovers, its mighty soldiers and barons: who have fought for their fatherland and citizens; and have manfully exposed themselves to many dangers and death: and have set the common good before all private and peculiar interests; how much more is Christ to be praised and loved Who for us all was crucified and died: that we might live for ever and reign with Him in Heaven. Amen.