Cross of Jesus: A Means to Greater Joy 

According to our faith, one must rejoice [at his sufferings], because the more one experiences tribulation the greater the joy and the glory are given. (OCL, I, 194, p. 290)

St. Vincent Pallotti found in the cross of Jesus the true means to achieve genuine happiness and joy. When a person is struggling with his crosses of daily life, it is the cross of Jesus that can give him a sense of encouragement and help him to carry on his life despite the crosses. Hence, St. Vincent advised his followers to look up to Jesus when they were faced with the crosses of everyday life. When a person places the totality of his life at the foot of the cross of Jesus, both the example as well as the grace of Jesus would help that person to accept and live out his crosses joyfully. Christ made every Christian an heir to the Kingdom of God by destroying his sin through his death on the cross. Hence, in order to make oneself worthy of the Kingdom of God, one must become more and more the image of Jesus crucified. Thus, St. Vincent was convinced of the value of the cross to make us truly joyful, both in one’s life here on earth and his life in the world to come. Therefore, he advised his followers to carry a crucifix with them always in order to remind them of their need to carry the cross of Jesus in their heart.

How do I accept the crosses that come in my life? Does the cross of Christ give me the strength to accept and live the crosses of my daily life joyfully? Do I recognize the value of the cross in order that I might become worthy of the Kingdom of God?

My eager expectation and hope is that … with all boldness, now as always, Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. (Phil. 1: 20)