From Sr. Mary Bernardine: What is the Cross?

To paraphrase St. Augustine: anything that is suffering or difficult is the cross. When you think of it as soon as you get up in the morning you can experience the cross. Tiredness overwhelms you (you don't want to get up!), your shoe lace breaks, the car won't start, it's raining.

Jesus said: "WHOEVER WISHES TO COME AFTER ME MUST DENY HIMSELF, TAKE UP HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW ME."

St. Francis de Sales, speaking of the cross: "The best crosses are those to which we have the greatest repugnance, the crosses we encounter in the streets are excellent, but still better are those we find at home... Crosses of our invention are never worth much; we make them ourselves, and consequently they are less crucifying." Be of good heart, as Francis would say "...the good God knows what He does and why He does it, all for our good, no doubt."

Sister Mary Bernardine, VHM