XI. Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.

Why should God have chosen the cross as the means for our salvation?

Think of it: Christ was nailed to the cross, the large nails boring through His hands and His feet.  Not only must it have been excruciatingly painful, but they also left wounds there that He would later show to His apostles.

Why did He choose to allow Himself to be thus marked?  Why did He want His wounds to be visible even in His glorified body?

Was it not for our sake?  For He wanted to remind us at every moment of how much He loves us.  Even more than that, He wants us to know that we are not alone in our suffering.  If we are nailed to our cross (so often ourselves or whatever suffering we bear) then we are not alone: He still bears His wounds, displaying them openly that we might remember that it was through sufferings that our salvation was won.

Sometimes we are afraid of pain, of illness, of suffering in any form because we think that it will shatter us.  Yet these things united to Him have a great power and if they remain burned in our flesh it is only that we might have some means of unity with our Blessed Savior.

My Jesus! loaded with contempt, nail my heart to Thy feet, that it may ever remain there, to love Thee, and never quit Thee again. I love Thee more than myself; I repent of having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt. (From the Stations of the Cross according to Saint Alphonsus Liguori.)