One time at Confession, I was given the penance of meditating for five minutes on one Mystery of the Rosary. I chose to meditate on the Fourth Sorrowful Mystery, The Carrying of the Cross.

I have always had a deep attachment to the Sorrowful Mysteries, and the Fourth one in particular. I have always called the Fourth Sorrowful Mystery, in my head, of course, Jesus Accepts His Cross.

I have called it this because every time I think about it, it reminds me why Jesus picked up His cross. He picked it up because He chose to do so. He was not forced. He did it, because he wanted to help…not Himself…but us…even though we are sinful…even though we often knowingly don’t care for Him. And that idea, that knowledge, showed me so many things. This thought brings it down to earth.

After meditating, a faint idea entered into my head and I wrote a short idea that eventually turned into a poem.

You were condemned,
Even though innocent.

You suffered,
Even though immortal.

You were born,
Even though always living.

You died,
Even though still living.

You were shunned,
Even though holy.

You were persecuted,
Even though loved.

You were flawless,
Even though human.

You were loved,
Even though murdered.

You loved,
Even though hated.

You were betrayed,
Even though befriended.

You were martyred,
Even though God.

Sometimes putting it into your words can help you see it in a new light, in a different way.

I now read this poem every time I do personal prayer. It puts a perspective on how much God did, does, and will do.

Sometimes these things can help you grow closer to, and deeper into, the mind of God. I mean a simple prayer, a saint’s story, a saint’s special prayer or a quote. One quote that I use many times is the quote from Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, “The future is in the hands of God, and better than that it could not be.” This quote is able to help me get through rough and difficult times, especially when I question what is going to happen in the future.

Find something that will allow you to focus on God, or any saint, and will let you be able to love him and form a deep, and especially personal, relationship. Rather than just thinking of those in Heaven as unreachable, think of each of them as a person who cares, a unique friend, who will never leave you and loves you very much, no matter what you do, and whose love and support and guidance is there, no matter what happens to you.

Pray for me (I’ll pray for you!)

A note from the Holy Heroes dad: One thing we have found in our family can really help you slow down and think about our relationships with those is Heaven, God and the Saints, is our Spiritual Journal.It’s a great way to focus your thoughts on God’s work in your life each day and to record your insights. Here’s a link to a blog post about it and a link to purchase it (there are volume discounts so everyone in your family can have one).