Our Lord Jesus crucified

Our Lord invites us, if we would be his disciples, to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow him. We do this especially in Lent but we should do it throughout the year. In this meditation we use texts of Scripture and of St Josemaria Escriva to consider how:

• Jesus Christ, out of love for us, took up the cross in his passion and death, and he suffered more than we ever will
• There are many reasons for, and benefits from, living self-denial
• Self-denial is essential for holiness
• We can live self-denial in many ordinary ways
• We should accept in a spirit of penance the crosses life brings
• Those who live self-denial find joy in this life and in the next