The Church calls to our minds the Precious and Life-giving Cross of our Lord.

Recall that our Lord tells those who would follow Him that they, too, must daily pick up their own crosses. In fact, our Lord instructs those who would follow Him with three instructions or conditions: They must deny themselves; they must take up their crosses; and they must *actually* follow Him.

Let us hear this challenge today from our Lord and let us make haste to put into action His words to us!