Glorious Cross March
(The Crosier) lives real love through practical solidarity with those in distress, first of all by acting with love in tangible ways that require physical and moral sacrifices (Profile of the Congolese Crosier).
In collaboration with Jesus Christ for the accomplishment of his Kingdom, the Crosier employs the same pastoral strategies as he did. Jesus sought, first of all, to be in solidarity with all human beings, suffering as one of them. He never distanced himself from his brothers and sisters. On the contrary, he became incarnate for a full sharing in their life. Recognizing that he is of the same flesh as everyone, the Crosier also stays close to people. Secondly, Christ suffered with others, a man of compassion. He felt the fever of Peter’s mother-in-law, the isolation of the leper, the sorrow of the widow of Naim, the hunger of the crowd and the embarrassment of the hemorrhaging woman. He made empathic contact with them to comfort them. So the Crosier does not let himself be indifferent to the sufferings of others. Finally, Jesus suffered for his brothers and sisters, even in their place, to redeem them. “Yet it was our pain that he bore, our sufferings he endured” (Is 53:4). He made the supreme sacrifice of his life. In the same way, the Crosier does not count the cost of service, even to the possibility of martyrdom.
The elephant carries on its head the wood that forerunners have gathered. (Bahambu)
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