I am Father Mark Mary with Franciscan Friars, the renewal, and this is the Rosary in a Year podcast.

We're through prayer and meditation, the rosary brings us deeper into relationship with Jesus and to Mary.

It becomes a source of grace for the whole world.

The Rosary in a Year is brought to you by Ascension.

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Today we will be meditating upon and praying with the fourth sorrowful mystery, the carrying

of the cross with help from a writing by Saint Thomas Aquinas from his commentary on the Gospel of John.

And the emphasis of our meditation will be he carried his cross as a victor carries the trophy of his victory.

And now our reading from St. Thomas Aquinas.

The way Christ was brought to his crucifixion was a dishonor.

Baring his own cross, for death on a cross was a disgrace.

A hanged man is a curse by God.

And thus, avoiding the cross is something unholy and fearing even to touch it, they laid

the cross on the condemned Jesus.

Thus it says that he went out bearing his own cross.

Christ bore his cross as a king does his sceptor.

His cross is the sign of his glory, which is his universal dominion

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