The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life

by Michael Dubruiel

Discover how the Passion of Christ can change your life… forever. There is power in the Cross of Christ that, sad to say, many Christians don’t experience. Now you can learn to see Jesus’ suffering and death not as some spectacle or theatrical production, but as a blueprint for how to live your life. Here is the radical teaching of Our Lord presented in a series of concrete steps that you can take at your own pace, whether you use this book alone or with a group. Here • How to follow Christ more closely. • God’s unique purpose and mission for you. • How to overcome the evil that you have suffered at the hands of others. • To find God’s presence in difficult times. • The keys to unleashing the power of the Cross in your life. And more. Day by day for five weeks, here are the prayers, the reflections, the stories, and the teaching that will help you not only better comprehend the power of Christ’s great sacrifice for you, but come to better understanding why and how to accept that power now. "There are those who would conclude that we live in an age when miracles have ceased, but miracles abound — we just don’t recognize them. What we need is the spiritual surgery of the Cross to restore our vision to see the world as God sees it, to see everything in His light." — From The Power of the Cross

Genres: Catholic, Faith

272 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2004

Reviews

[Bice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second year of using this wonderful book as a Lenten Devotional. I first learned of it through the Discerning Hearts App. (Highly recommend both App and website) Amy Welborn who is the widow of the author Michael Dubruiel, offered a free download of the PDF version. Liked it so much I quickly bought the paperback version.
The book is divided into 42 days and six weeks. It can be used any time of the year but does have added days if one wants to use at Lent. Each day has a Bible Reading, and Michael’s interesting story/commentary that ties to the week’s theme. For example the theme for Week Three is The Cross of Christ transforms..... The title for Day 15 of that week is The Cross of Christ Transforms....How we Worship.
My favorite part is the Steps to Take as You Follow Christ section that is at very end of each day. Michael here gives you “homework” that pertains to Day’s reading. The Steps are

Ask: Michael asks you a question e.g. How well do I prepare for the Eucharist I receive at Mass?

Seek: An actual action or task e.g. Pray for the Dead.....

Knock: Here we are asked to meditate on a particular Scripture passage

Transform Your Life: Here we are given an admonition. eg “Realize you are a child of God reborn in Baptism...Live out your Baptism, dying to yourself....

Highly recommend!

[Naomi Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm reading a Kindle copy of this book, though I have the print version somewhere. You can get a free copy here.

Well, as I said, I've had this book for quite some time, but always got distracted, skipped a few days, given up. This year is clearly my year to read it; even though I've ended up doubling up a day or two, every day has brought SOMETHING for me to stop in my tracks and consider and pray, even if just briefly.

Although the book is keyed to the Mass readings for Lent, the book could be right for you if at any time you are in the middle of suffering and wondering what God might be doing -- or failing to do -- by leaving you in it.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would probably have gotten more out of this if I read it with a prayer group or with someone else. You live, you learn.