Meditating on the Passion, by Aaron Kheriaty, MD

In the first part of this series I introduced the brief prayer, doce me passionem Tuam—teach me Your suffering—a simple aspiration we can say many times a day. I also suggested that to help us go deeper into the meaning of this prayer, I would publish here during Holy Week a prayer for Consecration to the Most Holy Cross of Jesus, which can be made on Good Friday. Here I want to offer some suggestions on how we might use the remainder of Lent to prepare for this consecration. Indeed, the preparatory work for the consecration is as important as the consecration itself and will make it more fruitful.

To consecrate means to “set aside” for sacred use, as when objects are consecrated for use in the Church’s liturgy. The consecration is a symbolic act—a means to an end—intended to cultivate devotion of the heart. There are many ways in which one could prepare, and I do not want to be too prescriptive here. I offer just a few ideas and suggestions that each can tailor to their own circumstances. The purpose of the preparatory period is to allow sufficient time for one to understand, learn, and enter into each stage of Christ’s Passion. There is value to renewing the consecration on an annual basis on Good Friday, and one could approach the preparatory period during Lent from a different angle every year. …