Lighted Cross – Our Lady Coredemptrix Friary

This photo of the lighted cross atop our New Marian Friary of Our Lady Coredemptrix in Bloomington Indiana is an excellent image to meditate on as we celebrate the Church’s Solemnity of the Exaltation of the Cross.     The cross of Our Lord has truly has been and still is a certain light in a world that has been darkened by sin.  Our Lord said in the Gospel of John, “Now is the judgment of the world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to myself. (Jn 12:32) and for anyone who wanted to be considered his true disciple to  “take up his cross daily, and follow me”.  The cross sheds a certain light in the darkness of the world on the path that leads us in the footsteps of Christ.   Especially during these difficult times in which believers find themselves today with the many assaults upon our Faith and religious freedom we must take consolation in knowing that the cross is a sign of hope and a sure guide to Christ.  Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity once commented that she loved the cross because that is where she finds her beloved Jesus.  Let us end with the words from Bl. John Henry Cardinal Newman which seem to have new and fresher meaning when looking upon the light coming from the cross of Our Lord.  – Fr. Elias

Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home,–
Lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene,–one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou
Shouldst lead me on:
I loved to choose and see my path, but now
Lead thou me on!
I loved the garish days, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will: remember not past years.

So long thy power hath blessed me, sure it still
Will lead me on;
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone;
And with the morn those angel faces smile
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.