Meditations on the Mysteries of the Rosary: The Carrying of the Cross

 

(Matthew 11:28-30)

God speaks to me most often through what is true, beautiful. and good. Classical art in particular, can leave such a deep impression in my soul. This is a close-up of the painting “Christ and the Cyrenian” by Titian, an artist from the late 15th, 16th centuries, and is what I most often remember when meditating on the 4th Sorrowful mystery of the rosary, the Carrying of the Cross. It conveys to me, the strength of my Savior to suffer, for love of me. 

And He is not looking at us, with such a determined look as to procure feelings of guilt, but rather to say “Whatever it is, whatever heavy burdens you are carrying, I carried them. And I am here now, to carry them with you. I am here in the middle of your mess. In the blood, sweat, and tears, I am holding up this cross for you. I will continue to hold it but we must go together, on this way of the Cross, to get through to Easter. Your Easter is coming, my beloved. See the strength of my cross. And be not afraid of your own. For I am here with you.”

I then think of what tremendous faith Mary herself had to have, to see her beloved son, suffer so horribly, walk the way of the cross with Him, all the while having to hope, that somehow, God would make things right. I ask for the same faith. For the same grace to believe when the cross seems too heavy, and the grace to lean on Him when I want to give up. 

For more meditations on the mysteries of the rosary and a brief explanation of the rosary, look on the page I created in the menu bar above “Meditations on the Mysteries of the Rosary”. God bless you.