He stretched out His hands on the Cross, that He might embrace the ends of the world; for this Golgotha is the very centre of the earth…He said, It is finished. For the mystery has been fulfilled; the things that are written have been accomplished; sins are forgiven.
–Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313-386)
Jesus, the Sinless, was crucified for you; and will you not be crucified for Him who was crucified for you? You are not bestowing a favor, for you have first received; but you are returning a favor, repaying your debt to Him who was crucified for you in Golgotha.
–Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313-386)
Every deed of Christ is a cause of glorying to the Catholic Church, but her greatest of all glorying is in the Cross…the glory of the Cross led those who were blind through ignorance into light, loosed all who were held fast by sin, and ransomed the whole world…His Passion then was real: for He was really crucified, and we are not ashamed thereat; He was crucified, and we deny it not, nay, I rather glory to speak of it….
–Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313-386)
Taking up our cross means obediently and humbly submitting ourselves to those temporary sorrows and afflictions that Divine Providence sees fit to allow against us for the cleansing away of our sins. Then the cross will serve us as a ladder from earth to heaven. The thief in the Gospels who ascended this ladder ascended from out of terrible crimes into most radiant heavenly habitations. From his cross he pronounced words filled with humility of wisdom; in humility of wisdom he entered into the knowledge of God, and through the knowledge of God, he acquired heaven. We receive the due reward of our deeds, he said. ‘Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.’ (Lk. 23:41–42) When sorrows encompass us, let us also, beloved brothers and sisters, repeat the words of the good thief—words that can purchase paradise!
–Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov (1807-1867)
No one, however weak, is denied a share in the victory of the cross. No one is beyond the help of the prayer of Christ. His prayer brought benefit to the multitude that raged against him. How much more does it bring to those who turn to him in repentance.
–Saint Leo the Great (c. 400-461)
Christians must lean on the Cross of Christ just as travelers lean on a staff when they begin a long journey.
–Saint Anthony of Padua (1195-1231)
