"If anyone would come after Me, let Him deny himself and take up his cross
daily and follow Me." (Luke 9:23)

What does it mean to take up your cross daily? Well, it will mean something different to everyone, dependant upon his or her circumstances. To the Christian in prison for His faith (Christians are still being persecuted in 42 countries around the world today) the answer is obvious. To someone who suffers poor health, it will mean to bear patiently the illness and to offer it up to God with love for His intentions. To take up our cross daily means to accept all our daily burdens, whatever they may be and offer them up in a spirit of love and reparation. Perhaps you dislike your boss at work, or maybe your relationship with a partner or parent is difficult. Perhaps it is accepting some kind of injustice or humiliation that, were you not a follower of Christ, you would not stand for. Whatever burdens us each day, this is our cross, how patiently and lovingly we endure our cross reveals to God the depth of our love, for Him and for our neighbour. If you drag your cross behind you with resentment in your heart, then it will be very heavy for you to bear. If on the other hand you carry your cross with love, then you will be able to lift it high with the saints and say, "I rejoice in my sufferings!" If we do not love to the point of self-sacrifice then our love is not Christ-like. The nature of Christ is to be selfless, but our nature is to be selfish. Through God's grace and a determined will, we can change this, and the more we pray and become filled with the Holy Spirit, the more selfless our nature will become. We must try to do all things out of love expecting no reward. We must learn to give all things, endure all things, and forgive all things, for the love of Jesus, and for no other reward than knowing that we are fulfilling His will.

"Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us:" (Matthew 6:12)

There can be no interior life without a forgiving heart. It has been said that the most important word in The Lord's Prayer, is the word "as." "Forgive us our trespasses, AS we forgive..." God's grace cannot take entire possession of a heart that is lacking in forgiveness towards others. Jesus placed great importance on this when He quoted Hosea to the Pharisees: "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice" (Matthew 12:7)

"First of all, then I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions,
and thanksgivings be made for all men." (1 Timothy 2:1)

Intercession for others is a part of the interior life that can bear much fruit. As members of Christ's Mystical Body we cannot live for ourselves alone but must live for everyone. The Bible tells us: "If one member suffers, all suffer together." (1 Corinthians 12:26) And also: "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2) And finally, "Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbour." (1 Corintians 10:24). Our world has a greater need than ever for souls who will dedicate themselves to prayer and intercession.

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations." (Matthew 28:18&19)

We are Christ's Mystical Body, therefore, we must be the face of God upon this earth, His arms that embrace, His guiding hand, His loving smile, we must let everyone see the love of God through our actions and the way we live our lives. It is our duty to "make disciples of all nations." Not everyone will be called by God to save souls by becoming a minister of the church. Not everyone will be lead to become a Religious in a Convent or Monastery, but we are all called to give glory to God and help save souls through prayer! It is our daily duty to pray that God's name be "Hallowed", that His "kingdom come" and that "His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Also that mankind may not be "lead into temptation", but that God, "delivered us from all evil". This is the duty of all God's disciples