Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross [Edith Stein] That the world might be saved through him …Made man for love of men He made a gift to the souls he has chosen Of his human life in its fullness. He who formed each human heart Desires to make known one day The secret meaning of each one’s being By means of a new name that only the one who receives it understands (Rv 2,17). He has united each chosen soul In a mysterious and unique way. Drawing from the fullness of his human life, He makes a gift to us Of the cross. What is the cross ? It is the sign of greatest shame. Whoever comes into contact with it Is rejected from among men. People who acclaimed him before Turn away from him with dread and know him no longer. He has been handed over, defenceless, to his enemies. Nothing remains for him on earth any more Except suffering, anguish and death. What is the cross ? The sign pointing to heaven. Far above the dust and mists here below It reaches up high into pure light. Therefore abandon what men may take.away, Open your hands, lean against the cross: Then it will carry you Into eternal light. Raise your eyes to the cross : It stretches out its wooden beams Like a man opening wide his arms To receive the whole world. Come, all you who toil beneath the weight of the burden (Mt 11,28) And you who have nothing but a cry, on the cross with him. It is the image of the God who, being crucified, becomes pale. It rises up from earth to heaven Like the One who rose heavenward And desires to bear all of us there together with himself. Only embrace the cross and you possess him Who is the Way, the Truth, the Life (Jn 14,6). If you carry your cross, it will carry you; It will be your bliss. Poem « Signum Crucis », 16/11/1937
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 20:43:13 +0000