Cross, To Crucify, Crucifixion

Jesus carrying the cross

Jesus Christ gave his life on the cross to redeem the human race. The Christian follows the Christ and prepares his soul for Heaven by accepting to carry his own cross as well, that is to endure with love and resignation the trials that God allows in his life.

In "The Gospel as It Was Revealed to Me"

The cross, carrying one’s cross

Is there still anyone who, because he serves me, claims that I am his servant and that I perform miracles continuously for him, making his life a flowery, pleasant, humanly glorious carpet? My path, my work, my service, is the cross, suffering, renunciation, sacrifice. I passed that way. Let those who want to call themselves "mine" follow me.^[1]
Symbolism of the Cross.^[2]
Whoever does not take up his cross to follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever wants to save his life will lose it.^[3]
Whoever loves his father, … his life more than me" – "Carrying one’s cross".(^[4]–^[5]) and ^[6]
Let each one take up his cross as I will take mine... And let him follow me with his cross.(^[7]-^[8]-^[9]) and ^[10]
When you have lifted up the Son of Man...^[11]

The crucifixion of Jesus

The way of the cross (The Via Dolorosa) – Jesus meets his mother – the veil of "Veronica" – Jesus falls under the cross – Simon of Cyrene.^[12]
The crucifixion: undressing, nailing, agony, death.^[13]
John tells the apostles about the crucifixion he witnessed.^[14]
At the foot of the cross there was a violet plant in bloom and your Blood fell drop by drop on the blooming violet plant…^[15]

In other works of Maria Valtorta

The Notebooks of 1943

Catechesis of April 22 : I remained pressed my lips against those pierced feet as if I were drinking from a spring that is both coolness and ardor. A spiritual sensation, but so vivid that it seems real...^[16]
Catechesis of May 13 : On Holy Friday, I saw for the first time Jesus crucified, between the two thieves, at the top of Golgotha, a vision that lasted for months, not continuous, but very frequent […] No matter how much I think, I have never seen a painting similar to my vision.^[17]
Catechesis of June 7 : I encourage my weakness and restrain my flesh with the cross of Christ. Only clinging to the crucified Christ can I keep my soul upright.^[18]
Catechesis of December 29 : […] The executioners’ idea was to suspend me by the carpal bones, immediately above the wrist joint, to make the suspension firmer. And indeed, after stretching me on the cross, they pierced my right hand at that point […]

But, since the scaffolder had marked the left hole (it was customary to mark the nail locations to make it easier to drive them into the thick wood and to suspend more firmly a body placed, not horizontally, but vertically and supported only by three long nails) farther from where the carpal bones of my hand could reach, it was decided, after stretching my arm until tearing the tendons, to drive the nail into the center of the palm, between two metacarpal bones. (...)^[19]

Notes and references

[1] EMV 100

[2] EMV 256

[3] EMV 265

[4] Matthew 10:37-39

[5] Luke 10:25-33

[6] EMV 281

[7] Matthew 16:21-28

[8] Mark 8:31

[9] Luke 9:21-27

[10] EMV 346

[11] EMV 507

[12] EMV 608

[13] EMV 609

[14] EMV 631

[15] EMV 638

[16] Catechesis of April 22, 1943

[17] Catechesis of May 13, 1943

[18] Catechesis of June 7, 1943

[19] Catechesis of December 29, 1943

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