I have a new column up here. The title will always be precious to me because I heard it first in my own living room -- as Dr. Alice vonHildebrand told be about her new book and this inspiration that came to her one day in prayer. It's perfect, and I hope to flesh it out even more in the coming months over at Catholic Exchange where I'll be doing the bulk of my work in the future. A snippet:
Jewels have value in this life—for their rare beauty. Their appeal is universal, they are often associated with marks of distinction, and they can be obtained only at great cost.
The cross has often become such a banal cliché that many forget its torturous associations. Christians are wisely challenged to reflect on its meaning and the details of such a love that would compel the God-man to freely endure this suffering. Truly the human depths of our love and gratitude for God can never grasp the real cost of his gift.
So what does a “jeweled cross” indicate? It means that the suffering we endure for love has value—and even more so when joined to the salvific work of Christ. His is the cross that gives merit to our pain, and he is the one who shows what love can accomplish.
Interestingly, she also describes the priesthood as a jeweled cross, and she applies her new insight to the question concerning why women cannot be priests. Each cross is so heavy and all-encompassing, she believes, God wouldn't ask women to carry two simultaneously. While not the primary answer I would offer about why there is an all-male priesthood, it is a profound thought if you realise the implications of each vocation.
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