|
|
Cross of the Apostolate "This Cross will chase away the devil, will spread warmth and life, will heal bodies and souls, will make many miracles" |
||||||||||||||
|
The Cross of the Apostolate, emblem of the
Work of the Cross, symbolizes in its diverse elements the spirituality that gives it life.
Vision
of the Cross of the Apostolate End of January, 1894. One morning, after having received communion, Conchita was recollected in God; all of a sudden, she felt a strong joy. She had a vision, something like an allegory, something that she did not understand. Of a natural size, and on the right side of the transept of the Church called "The Society", in San Luis Potosi, a square of very bright light, that became clearer towards the center, so clear that it appeared to be white light. In the middle and above this abyss of light, with a thousand golden rays, apparently of fire; a very white dove, as if coming from heaven, with the wings spread covering the flood, that sea of so bright a light. And Conchita again did not understand all of that, that she was seeing. As the Works of God: with gentleness, calmly, a horizon of dawn, of a lofty and dark vision that without knowing was known: as it was light and it was love, what was burning there. Two or three days afterwards,
in February 1894, on an afternoon, at the same church: the dove returns again, and as
always, amidst suns and the spread wings. But, this time, in a background of that so brilliant a light, radiantly
appeared: the wood of the Cross! And,...under the Cross, a thousand rays that were never mistaken, neither with the white dove nor with that brightness that the clouds emitted. The Heart was: alive, throbbing and of flesh. Very human, awash in fire. Movable, touchable and material. As a special blaze of an unquenchable fire: something that made visible that it was GLORIFIED. From the heart spranged up, from its interior: flames, flames as tongues of fire of a very fine brightness. These went up with violence, as the rage of a volcano. They covered and uncovered, a small and black Cross, inserted in the Heart, although somewhat standing out. The throbbing Heart moved with
anxiety, in a disk that as a sun more light gave to it. Although it was Glorified,
hard thorns were hurting it: they squeeze him, that it hurts to see, "thorns of
ingratitude that were never consumed." Two months went by, thus. That Cross appeared, in prayer as well as in the daily chores. An obsessive Cross that neither at night disappeared. But suddenly: the Lord speaks! And thus Conchita understood, that on her shoulders, a Cross He would put. "My heart will be like your cloister--He said--there you will soak in the love in which I love. Look, there is rest there. Perfection on earth, as mine. The intensity of love, purified by yearning and by sorrow: as my love without a cross wouldn't have been love. Love! Sorrow! Oh, Concha, my Cross of the Apostolate!" And so Conchita
knew which her vocation was: "I have a Heart fixed on me,--she would say--speared and
pierced... I long for many souls in that Cloister: I thirst for souls, I thirst for
consolation for this the Heart of my Beloved". "It will drive away devil; it will spread virtue; it will heal bodies and souls; it will make many miracles!" It will grow in LIVING CROSSES; in all those that united to the Lord: with cheerfulness on the lips, joy in the heart, but nailed to the Cross, tell Him with their life: Jesus, savior of all people, save them!
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
