The phrase Gaudete in via Crucis—“rejoicing on the way of the cross”—embodies our household mission: to walk daily the road to Calvary, with the purpose of being united with our Blessed Mother at the foot of the cross.
Although Mary suffered greatly to experience her Son’s death, her sorrow became joy upon seeing her resurrected Son and His ascension into Heaven. We accompany the Blessed Virgin Mary at the foot of the cross with the expectation of taking part in her endless joy. Daily, we endeavor to set aside our selfish fears and ambitions in order to remain faithful with Christ at the foot of His cross.
On our journey, we look to all the saints for prayers and intercession. We find encouragement through the example of the holiness of their lives. In particular, we strive to emulate the virtues of St. Mary Magdalene, St. John the Apostle and Mary, Queen of all Saints, for they remained at Christ’s side even unto death. The virtues we hope to imitate include humility, self-denial, joy and embracive love.
Humility “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3 Christ humbled himself out of love for us when he suffered and died on His cross. Out of love for Christ, we too humble ourselves for the good of our neighbor—to love our brothers and sisters as Christ has loved us.
Self-denial “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25 Jesus, obeying the will of the Father, accepted His cross with redeeming love. We accept our daily vexations and curb our selfish desires in order to conform our wills to the will of the Father.
Joy “Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.” Psalm 126:5 Mary’s heart was pierced with sorrow as she experienced her Son’s death on the cross. Her sorrow turned to joy as she met her resurrected Son and watched Him ascend His throne in Heaven. Joyfully we take up our crosses knowing that our suffering is not in vain, understanding that one day we will experience the true joy of being united with our Father in heaven. This is the concept of St. Francis’s notion of perfect joy.
Embracive Love “We love, because He first loved us. …And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.” 1 John 4:19, 21 Even as He hung on His cross, Jesus demonstrated His unconditional love for His brothers and sisters by forgiving those who persecuted Him. Daily we embrace each other and our everyday challenges, imitating the love that Christ portrayed for us as He hung on His cross. We look to imitate the values mentioned above through prayer and mutual support, as well as in times of group fellowship—especially through the sacrifice of the mass, offered up in unity with one another, with the Church and the whole world.
