Live + Jesus!

On May 3, the anniversary of the finding of the True Cross, the five small crosses that were made on Palm Sunday are blessed with a special prayer and then buried on our grounds–one in the house and the others on the four corners. This is done for protection from all evil. This has been our tradition for as long as any of the sisters can remember and today we continued it. The crosses were sent to the Sacristy yesterday for Father to bless this morning and this evening they were “planted.” Below is the prayer and explanation.

   “At no time in the history of the Church was the true Cross of our dear Savior needed more to subdue His enemies than in these days. The wicked spirits dread and flee from this sign of four Redemption and from the Blessings of Holy Mother the Church. She blesses cro

sses on this day to protect us, our property and our crops against

these evil spirits who, as Saint John in his Apocalypse warns, are permitted to molest us. Plant one of these crosses (blessed twice: on Palm Sunday and on May 3rd, traditionally the feast of the finding of the Holy Cross) on each of the four corners of your property and keep one in your home. Testimonials of visible protection from these crosses are numerous.”

BLESSING OF CROSSES which are to be set in vineyards, fields, etc., on or about May 3

(Approved by the Congregation of Sacred Rites, Feb. 10, 1888)

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.

All: Who made heaven and earth.

P: The Lord be with you.

All: And with your spirit.

Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, Father of goodness and consolation, in virtue of the bitter suffering that Thy only- begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, endured for us sinners on the wood of the cross, bless + these crosses which your faithful will erect in their vineyards, fields and gardens. Protect the land where they are placed from hail, tornado, storm, and every assault of the enemy, so that their fruits, ripened for the harvest, may be gathered to Thy honor by those who put their hope in the Holy Cross of Thy son,our Lord Jesus Christ,  who lives and reigns with Thee eternally.

All: Amen.

Live + Jesus!

From The Sermons of Saint Francis de Sales for Lent for Palm Sunday, 1622 (pp 170-172)

Why our Lord chose to ride a donkey for His entry into Jerusalem:

“The first is because of its humility. The ass, though heavy, sluggish and lazy, has great humility. It is neither proud nor vain; in this it is unlike the haughty horse. . . .Now our Lord, who was humble and came to destroy pride , chose not to use this proud animal to carry Him. He chose the most simple and the most humble of all animals because He so loved lowliness and humility that only a humble mount could serve Him. God dwells and abides only in the simple and humble of heart. . .

“The second quality is its patience. . . allowing itself to be beaten and maltreated without ever forgetting its origin. It neither complains, nor bites, nor kicks. . . Our Lord so loved patience that He wished to become its mirror and pattern.He endured scourging and ill-treatment with invincible patience; He supported so many blasphemies, so many calumnies, without saying a word.

“The third reason is that this animal is obedient, permitting us to burden it as we want without offering any resistance. It carries the load with remarkable submission and suppleness.So much did our Divine Master love obedience and suppleness that He Himself chose to give us an example of it. So He bore the heavy burden of our iniquities and suffered for them all that we had merited. . . Only when clothed with these qualities of humility, patience and submission can we be worthy to carry our Lord. Then the Savior will mount upon our hearts and, as a divine riding master, conduct us under His obedience.”

The Legend of the Donkey

All purebred donkeys are born with a cross on their back. A legend says it is the gift our Lord gave to the humble donkey that carried Him into Jerusalem. According to the legend, the little donkey so loved his Master that he followed Him to Calvary. Grief-striken at the sight, he turned away but remained at his station at the foot of the cross. The shadow of the Cross fell upon him and from that day all purebred donkeys wear the Master’s Cross on their back.