What does it mean to bear your cross and bear it well as a PRACTICING CATHOLIC?

Question

What does it mean to bear the cross and find joy in the Passion of the Lord? How is pain and sorrow transfigured by the cross? How do we bear it well to others? The Holy Road of the Cross...

Answer 1

The quickest means of sanctification and attaining heaven is by bearing the cross that the Lord sends you with patience and love. God's friends are those who embrace the cross that is sent them and those who do not curse their ill-fate and seek ways to avoid the cross. His friends are those who bless and praise His Holy Name equally in good times as well as during trials and tribulations. When a suffering comes our way we unite it to the Passion of Our Lord and to the Sorrows of Our Lady and offer it up to God for the conversion of poor sinners, for those on their death beds, for the Holy Souls in Purgatory especially the most forgotten souls and as penance for our own sins.
It could be a small or big suffering ( for example , a toothache or a deadly disease or a difficult family situation ) but when accepted cheerfully and borne well is a great source of blessings and grace for ourselves and for others.

Here are some wise quotes of St. Louis Marie de Montfort:
" Take advantage of little sufferings even more than great ones. God considers not so much WHAT we suffer as HOW we suffer.....Turn everything to profit as the grocer does in his shop."
" The glory of one who knows how to suffer is so great that Heaven, angels and men, and even God Himself, gaze on him with joy as a most glorious sight. And if the saints in Heaven desired anything, it would be to return to earth so as to bear some crosses."

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina says:
" God neither wants, nor is able, to save and sanctify us without the Cross. The more He calls a soul to Himself, the more He sanctifies it by means of the cross."

Excellent question! I hope more Catholics answer.

Answer 2

Catholics Don't Worship Mary, But They Do Ask That Mary Pray For Them Sometime. Thus, The Hail Mary Prayer. I Do Believe, Though I'm Not Sure, That Catholics Believe That Mary is Enthroned In Heaven. The Cross Thing is Symbolic Of The Father, Son, And Holy Ghost.

Answer 3

I think that Patricia answered very well and I can only add a little to her answer, the key to the way of the cross is suffering which if we are honest about we do not want to suffer, but we do know that God brings great good out of suffering and as we cannot escape it in this life then the humble and Christ-like thing is to accept it wether we like it or not, and offer our trials and tribulations in union with those of Christ.
We Catholics know full well that our unified sufferings are used by God for the saving of others which is not the same as those who say once saved always saved etc.
Lastly I will leave you with this truism, the cross is a terrible thing of beauty and it is the symbol of suffering that many would rather close their eye`s too, but the fact remains you can try to go around the cross, you can try to go under it or over it, but there is only one way and that is through the cross of suffering.

Answer 4

That is difficult to explain- but I will try.

Last January, I was facing a medical procedure- and I was scared out of my gourd. I thought my fear showed a lack of faith. I was praying the rosary ( sorrowful mysteries) and never got past the agony in the garden.

I realized Jesus had perfect faith, and he was scared- so I could be scared to....as long as I was willing to accept the Lord's plan in my life. I united my fear and pain with that of Jesus...and in the end came to a much deeper appreciation of what he endured for our sake. Several people commented to me how I never laid blame on anyone for my situation- not even God- and I endured the pain without complaining.

Answer 5

Pray. God will answer any question you ever ask him!
<>< God Bless!