Rosa and Edith Stein.
"Words cannot save us now, only the Passion of Christ..." - Edith Stein
My other favorite quote:
"In aridity and emptiness the soul becomes humble. Former pride disappears when a man no longer finds in himself anything that might cause him to look down on others." - Science of the Cross
Here's what I think.
What many of us seem to lack - besides charity and patient endurance - is an understanding of the cross, the intersection of authentic Christianity - where justice and peace embrace, mercy and truth kiss. Imagine Edith Stein screaming at the Jews in the camps that they must convert or else they will be damned, or that they brought such a fate upon themselves - rather she suffered with them as a Jew, walked in peace through the midst of the Nazi exterminators, sharing in that shame Christ endured - united with Him - and them.
And that is the true beauty of a faith that endures...at the foot of the cross, enduring in affliction, rejoicing in hope, and praying, always praying.
ReplyDeleteThe Eternal Man never complained once...not once! He took up that cross, you and me and everyone else, upon his shoulder, stumbled, fell, bloodied, pierced but like St. Paul reminds us:
"For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross"
Like you have already noted,Terry...patient endurance leads to heaven.
I add that joyful hope helps. ^^
Thanks Yaya.
DeleteDear Terry, I know this dates me...but 'right on.' Wonderful reflection on St Teresa Benedicta. Said Mass at the Carmelites: delighted to see new clothed candidate, Sr Magdalen of Divine Love, a former actress.
ReplyDeleteThanks Father.
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