OCTOBER ROSARY 2020 —Day 2 (SORROWFUL MYSTERIES)

 CARRYING THE CROSS

Dear Friends, we enter the 2nd Day of the praying of the Holy Rosary in this Month of October. Clearly, today would like us to delve into passion and sorrow with particular reflection on the Sorrowful Mysteries as it is the tradition on every Friday, with Good Friday being the day maximus. Today is also the 1st Friday of the Month of October and hence, it is a sign of communion of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. 

The Mysteries of today, I would say, take us unto a pedestal wherein we journey with Christ in his passion, like Mary, aspirating and trying to enter those same moments of pain and agony. That fellow whom we love, always yearn to listen to, walk with, I speak of Christ, is about to be sacrificed. This level embodies God's love for us, for mankind, “in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (cf. Romans 5:8), winning us to himself, desiring that we might stray no more. This vivifies an erudition of love especially when fused with sacrifice. In this way, we speak of a sacrificial love. 

This love ought to be reciprocated. When carried out in practice, we tend to help the limping, lapsing and despairing ones in the vehicle driving us towards the port of salvation, portus salutis, towards Heaven. I speak of the Church as that vehicle as we constitute the Pilgrim Church. We, then, aid those struggling to carry their crosses. We may be, in effect, helping ourselves to carry ours, for “help offered is help received”. Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus to carry His Cross to the end (cf. 5th Station of the Way of the Cross), teaching to disdain those awful appearances and transcend them while we discover a common denominator adorned with love. 

Many are in dire need of help. Like Mary, we can follow them and as a way of helping them carry their crosses PRAY for them. Mary teaches us to show concern for the needs and problems of others. I encourage all to thread this path and exhibit this example, not counting the costs. 

May the Mother of Jesus intercede for us and inspire us to undertake this act of showcasing God's love to the 'poorest of the poor' (those who are unable to help themselves) regardless of all indifferences. Let us ask her to teach us to love as “no skill can be learned without a teacher” (Pope Francis, Scripturae Sacrae Affectus, 2020, p. 5).

#Carrying_the_Cross