Holy Cross Be My Light - 100% Cotton

Printed on 100% cotton Comfort Colors Tees

Color: Black

There are two states of mind described at the start of Saint Benedict’s most appreciated prayer from his order. One state of mind is led by a peace giving light. One state of mind is led by a dark dragon figure. Saint Benedict understood in the core of his being what it took to stay safe from spiritual warfare. He knew God deeply and, as a saint, his heart was fully united to God.

For Saint Benedict, the Holy Cross he spoke of is of course the cross of Christ. We visualize this by looking at a crucifix, a wood cross, or by making the sign of the cross. It is in the cross we are saved. But Saint Benedict understood a deeper Truth that we sometimes forget: Jesus’ official command to us isn’t simply to look at his cross, but to take up our own crosses and follow him. 

This is the only way we become a disciple, a friend of God, a Saint.

If the Cross of Christ is Holy, and Christ asks us to take up our cross, then by uniting our crosses to Christ’s cross, the crosses we bear with Christ make us holy. Our life difficulties, our sinful burdens, our deep interior wounds that we don’t even recognize yet; all of these are our crosses given to us to bear. But take heart, because your cross is not meant to drown you in this sinful life until you die. God has a greater calling for you.

We take up our cross when we begin to say no to that habitual sin we keep taking to confession, when we begin to forgive those who hurt us in the past, when we love others as Jesus commanded. Then this cross becomes holy because we are uniting our hearts with God through this sacrifice of our self.

So when we say, “May the Holy Cross Be My Light, let not the dragon be my guide,” the action we take next is up to us. Will we choose to take up our cross and experience what it is like to live in the light, like Christ is in the light? Or will we choose the path of the dragon, who is known for sweeping stars out of the sky and devouring anything good coming from God?

The choice is ours, and the choice is not simply what determines how you will spend eternity. The choice you make each and every day affects your Eternal Life in Christ here and now.

You can live in Him, or you can live in the Dragon.

You can take up your cross, or you can follow the dragon.

I say, let the dragon drink his poison himself.

I will find my life in Christ.