The Throne of Love

A meditation for Holy Cross Day

"We venerate the cross as a safeguard of faith, as the strengthening of hope and the throne of love. It is the sign of mercy, the proof of forgiveness, the vehicle of grace and the banner of peace. We venerate the cross, because it has broken down our pride, shattered our envy, redeemed our sin and atoned for our punishment.

"The cross of Christ is the door to heaven, the key to paradise, the downfall of the devil, the uplifting of mankind, the consolation of our imprisonment, the  prize for our freedom. The cross was the hope of the patriarchs, the promise of the prophets, the triumph of kings and the ministry of priests. Tyrants are convicted by the cross and the mighty ones defeated, it lifts up the miserable and honors the poor. The cross is the end of darkness, the spreading of light, the flight of death, the ship of life and the kingdom of salvation.

"Whatever we accomplish for God, whatever we succeed and hope for, is the fruit of our veneration of  the cross. By the cross Christ draws everything to him. It is the kingdom of the Father, the scepter of the Son and the seal of the Holy Spirit, a witness to the total Trinity."

Rupert, Abbot of Deutz, early 12th century

Comments

[Leslie]

And now I find myself fueled for a weary work day. Thanks Joe.

[Tim]

I agree with Leslie, of course, but I'm sort of amazed that you posted it so early in the morning - I hadn't even had my first cup of coffee, and there you were!!!

Or - perhaps you actually posted it last thing at night...

[joseph]

Tim - I have these kind of natural alarm clocks. Someone in the house is cutting some molars, so I was up a bit late last night, or was it early this morning?

[Susan]

Thank you, Joseph, for keeping Holy Cross Day. I'd not known of this wonderful thing from the Abbot of Deutz. My new favourite for this HD. Brought to mind some of Thomas Traherne's writings on the Cross; some of his stuff is sort of like that. Here is one that is a little different from Traherne:

The cross of Christ is the Jacob's ladder by which we ascend into the highest heavens.

There we see joyful patriarchs, expecting saints, and prophets ministering, apostles publishing and doctors teaching, all nations concentring, and angels praising.

That cross is a tree set on fire with invisible flame, that illuminateth all the world. The flame is love. The love in his bosom who died upon it. In the light of which we see how to possess all things in heaven and earth after his similtude.