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The School of Jesus Crucified: The Lessons of Calvary in Daily Catholic Life
A famous book based on the theme of founding one's whole spiritual life on the lessons we learn from the Passion and Death of Jesus. Includes 31 meditations on different aspects of the Passion. Each meditation has 3 points, followed by a holy resolution to be taken and an example from the life of a Saint. The book also has many extras -- the Five Holy Wounds, visits to a crucifix, Mary Queen of Dolors, How to assist well at Mass, and more!
408 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1895
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 9, 2023
this was an incredible book to read during the passion of our Lord. It provided thought provoking descriptions of the details of Christ’s passion, encouraging a true reflection on the greatest and most intimate sacrifice made.
April 23, 2022
My last read for this year, this book was one that I first started "reading" in Lent of this year. It's not really a book for reading straight through. The majority of the text is a series of meditations on the sufferings of Christ, which is ideal for traditional mental prayer. If you're unsure as to what mental prayer is, it's the simple heart-to-heart conversations a creature can have with his Creator. The meditations highlight a certain aspect of His Life (in this care, the Passion, in particular) so that you can examine His ways of thinking and acting and aspire to them. Somewhere along the way, you can leave the meditation behind in order to enter that conversation, which can sometimes be simply silently abiding in His presence. Think of mental prayer as a means, not an end.
Hence this book is a means to that means. It has 30 meditations on the Passion, as well as additional meditations afterwards, including on the Dolors of the Blessed Virgin. You'll also find helpful aids on how to make a good Confession, Communion, and Stations of the Cross. An excellent book that belongs in any Catholic's library.
"O devout Christian, but only that you should daily spend half, or at least a quarter of an hour, in attentive consideration of some point of the Passion of Jesus." (p. 23)
"You regard Judas with horror, and yet feel none at so often renewing his foul treason by your sins." (p. 47)
"Behold our blessed Jesus walking in the midst of this insolent band of soldiers, His head bowed down, His eyes bent on the ground, His hands bound, His face disfigured with blows, His hands bound, His whole frame exhausted and trembling, and with scarcely the strength to proceed further. Can it be possible that a Christian with such a spectacle before his eyes, should continue to be proud, should give way to anger, should be unable to preserve a moment's silence under affronts, or be unwilling to bear the slightest injury. Ah, shame, shame upon your own self, for you have truly deserved all the outrages and affronts which are heaped upon your innocent Jesus!" (p. 70)
"Can it be possible that you are nourishing thoughts of resentment and revenge, when your God endures the ignominy of being struck on the face with such admirable patience?" (p. 75)
"[W]henever your own innocence alone is concerned there is no better weapon than humble silence for the refutation of calumny." (p. 81)
"If you do not avoid the society of the wicked, you will end by becoming like them." (p. 86)
"The desires of Herod are barren and unproductive. He had long desired to see Jesus, and yet he had never sought Him." (p. 106)
"[T]he voice of His Wounds drowns the voice of our sins." (p. 222)
Hence this book is a means to that means. It has 30 meditations on the Passion, as well as additional meditations afterwards, including on the Dolors of the Blessed Virgin. You'll also find helpful aids on how to make a good Confession, Communion, and Stations of the Cross. An excellent book that belongs in any Catholic's library.
"O devout Christian, but only that you should daily spend half, or at least a quarter of an hour, in attentive consideration of some point of the Passion of Jesus." (p. 23)
"You regard Judas with horror, and yet feel none at so often renewing his foul treason by your sins." (p. 47)
"Behold our blessed Jesus walking in the midst of this insolent band of soldiers, His head bowed down, His eyes bent on the ground, His hands bound, His face disfigured with blows, His hands bound, His whole frame exhausted and trembling, and with scarcely the strength to proceed further. Can it be possible that a Christian with such a spectacle before his eyes, should continue to be proud, should give way to anger, should be unable to preserve a moment's silence under affronts, or be unwilling to bear the slightest injury. Ah, shame, shame upon your own self, for you have truly deserved all the outrages and affronts which are heaped upon your innocent Jesus!" (p. 70)
"Can it be possible that you are nourishing thoughts of resentment and revenge, when your God endures the ignominy of being struck on the face with such admirable patience?" (p. 75)
"[W]henever your own innocence alone is concerned there is no better weapon than humble silence for the refutation of calumny." (p. 81)
"If you do not avoid the society of the wicked, you will end by becoming like them." (p. 86)
"The desires of Herod are barren and unproductive. He had long desired to see Jesus, and yet he had never sought Him." (p. 106)
"[T]he voice of His Wounds drowns the voice of our sins." (p. 222)
November 7, 2021
Great book for meditations on the Passion of Christ, but it is important to note that many of the examples of holy men and women given are meant to inspire rather than to be ones to imitate. This didn't always come across clearly.
October 14, 2020
A book that needs to be read and used for meditation often.
December 31, 2024
I read this book every year. I have gifted copies of this book multiple times. Walk with Our Lord during His passion. It WILL change you.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews