"Why, then, do you fear to take up the cross when through it you can win a kingdom? In the cross is salvation, in the cross is life . . . There is no salvation of soul nor hope of everlasting life but in the cross. (The Imitation of Christ)
"As the Church approaches Passiontide, it seems appropriate to turn our attention to the Cross of Christ, and the spiritual classic, 'The Imitation of Christ,' gives us an excellent starting point.
"The precise origins of 'The Imitation of Christ' are shrouded in mystery. Scholars believe, however, that two or three members of an association of priests who lived in the Netherlands in the 14th century, kept journals of their spiritual reflections which were later compiled, edited and translated into Latin by Thomas a Kempis, another member of the association. He is usually cited as the author.
"The language of the 'Imitation' might be considered archaic by today's standards, and its piety rather severe, but precisely for that reason it offers a valuable antidote to the superficial, sentimental spirituality we encounter today. The reflections on the Cross of Christ lead us right to the heart of the Christian Faith."
In a recent commentary, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, of the Diocese of Providence (RI), reflected on the spiritual value of embracing the cross and on how, as we travel through life, it is "impossible to avoid the reality of the cross."
To access Bishop Tobin's complete essay, please visit:
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