Old Stuff

The Virtues of the Cross

There is no virtue that did not have its example on the Cross:

Love

So if you seek an example of charity, then, greater love than his no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. And this Christ did upon the Cross. If, therefore, He gave His life or us, we ought to endure any and all evils for Him: What shall I render to the Lord for all the things that He hath rendered to me?"

Patience

If you seek an example of patience, you will find it in its highest degree upon the Cross. Great patience is exemplified in two ways: either when one suffers intensely in all patience, or when one suffers that which he could avoid if he so wished. Christ suffered greatly upon the Cross: O all ye that pass by the way, attend, and see if there be any sorrow like to My sorrow. And with all patience, because, when He suffered, He threatened not. And again: He shall be led as a sheep to the slaughter and shall be dumb before His shearer, and shall not open His mouth. He could have avoided this suffering, but He did not: Thinkest thou that I cannot ask My Father, and He will give Me presently more than twelve legions of Angels? The patience of Christ upon the cross, therefore, was of the highest degree: Let us run by patience to the fight proposed to us; looking on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, who, having joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.

Humility

If you seek an example of humility, look upon Him who is crucified; although He was God, He chose to be judged by Pontius Pilate and to be put to death: Thy cause has been judged as that of the wicked. Truly that of the wicked, because: Let us condemn Him to a most shameful death. The Lord chose to die for His servant; the Life of the Angels suffered death for man: He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross.

Obedience

If you seek an example of obedience, imitate Him who was obedient to the Father unto death: For by the disobedience of one man, many were made sinners; so also by the obedience of one, many shall be made just.

Contempt of the World

If you seek an example of contempt for earthly things, imitate Him who is the King of kings, the Lord of rulers, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom; but on the Cross He was stripped naked, ridiculed, spat upon, bruised, crowned with thorns, given to drink of vinegar and gall, and finally put to death. How falsely, therefore, is one attached to riches and raiment, for: They parted My garments amongst them; and upon My vesture they cast lots. How falsely to honors, since I was covered with lashes and insults; how falsely to positions of power, because taking a crown of thorns, they placed it upon My brow; how falsely to delicacies of the table, for in My thirst they gave Me to drink of vinegar. Thus, St. Augustine, in commenting on these words, Who, having joy set before Him, endured the Cross despising the shame, says: The man Christ despised all earthly things in order to teach us to despise them.

--From the sermon-conferences of Saint Thomas Aquinas on the Apostles' Creed.

Posted by billw at February 5, 2003 07:47 AM