It is a custom today to preach about the invention of the holy cross, as it was invented by Helen three hundred years after Christ's passion in the Jewish land; and in the invention outwardly greater dishonor was done to it than when it was under the earth. Therefore, necessity compels me to tell your beloved now about the veneration of the holy cross, in which great abuse and idolatry is done.
2) First of all, the use is to give great honor to the holy cross, to put it in silver [and gold**] vessels; which I do not reject, but the abuse I punish. For there are many simple-minded people who are deceived by this and go astray, namely, those who run back and forth to the holy cross, to Torgau, to Dresden, and wherever else there is more, even to such crosses where Christ did not suffer. Running does not mean inventing the holy cross, but rather burying it deeper into the earth. The reason is this: because one stands on the delusion and error, the cross at Torgau does that, and the other does not. Such delusion and conceit is certainly of the devil; why should it not be able to do so here, since it is also wood? Therefore, this is vain error and idolatry; as is also the case with the images, as with our Lady's image, St. Lawrence, St. Nicholas, and others more, since people seek comfort and help alone, and have their confidence therein, which is also great error and idolatry; as you have now often heard that we have no confidence in the image of the devil.
in holy angels, men, or in any other creature.
Therefore, where such abuse and error occurs in the worship of images and crosses, the crosses or images should be torn down and removed, and the churches there should be torn down. However, I do not reject the images completely and especially the figure of the crucified Christ. For we have a figure in the Old Testament of the bronze serpent, set up by Moses in the wilderness, Numbers 21, as you heard in the Gospel, so that all who were bitten by fiery serpents, looking at this bronze serpent, might be healed by this sight. We should do the same, so that we might be healed in our souls, should also look upon Christ crucified in such an image and believe in him. But when the Jews began to worship the serpent as a god and no longer as a sign, the pious Hezekiah came and tore it down, 2 Kings 18:4. So should our bishops and prelates do with such images: since there is an influx, they should surround themselves with churches and everything that is there; but what do they do? They come along and still give [churches and images, *] and give indulgences, so that they deceive the people and deprive them of money, yes, unfortunately, of their souls. What can one say? They find wolves and remain wolves.
4) The other abuse **) It may be that one has a little piece of the holy cross in some places; but there are so many pieces everywhere that a large house could be built of it; which is then all considered to be from the holy cross *). (c d) **) Cf. §§ 12-15. D. Red.
2242 ui, sso-M. Around days of the invention of the cross of Christ. W. n. 2ss8-sgsi. 2243
Cross of Christ. Since there is not a little dishonor done to the holy cross, it would be better if it were never invented, because it would give a cause for the greatest sin, idolatry. We are nowhere commanded in Scripture to honor or worship the bodily cross of Christ. If Christ had wanted it to be as great a thing as we make of it, he would indeed have expressed and commanded it in bright clear words; but he holds out another cross to us, saying in Matthew chap. 16:24: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Then Christ says that I should carry my cross: that I want to carry Christ's cross, he does not ask anything. He says that I should carry my cross, which God lays out for me, and that means to carry the cross properly; but those who carry it in this way are few and far between. One carries the cross of Christ in monstrances and in silver, kisses it and does it much honor; but what is it but idolatrous devotion, since it is done without the word and command of Christ? If you want to show honor to God or to the cross of Christ with your silver and gold, give it to your neighbor who needs it; there a penny is better invested than there a florin.
The gospel speaks of a cross, which is twofold. First, a "cross" is called suffering, which comes with shame and disgrace, because one must suffer and be wronged before the whole world; as when one suffers persecution for the sake of the gospel and faith, which is called a real cross. The other cross, when one suffers sickness, pain, misery and suffering in the body or in food, which God also sends us, is not really called a cross, but a suffering. All those whom the pope has burned and put to death as heretics, such as John Hus and Jerome of Prague, and now many more of them from time to time, have rightly borne the cross, for their actions would be considered unjust and heresy by the whole world, since they had to be called disgraceful and deceivers of the people, as happened to the Lord Christ Himself, and to the holy apostles and all the martyrs, and will continue to the end of the world.
From such a cross all the saints who are persecuted and martyred must say this saying in the 142nd Psalm v. 5: "Look to the right, and behold, no one knows me; for my flight is lost, no one inquires about my soul."
(7) For so it may be seen, when the persecution of the gospel proceeds, that no one stands on the side of the gospel, not even God Himself: therefore there is another saying in the 88th Psalm, vv. 15-19, where the prophet, in the person of such a man who suffers for God's sake, speaks thus: "Why hast thou, O Lord, cast off my soul, and hidest thy face from me? I am wretched and faint that I am so cast down; I am terrified. Thy wrath is upon me; thy terror oppresseth me. They surround me daily, like waters, and compass me about with one another. Thou hast put my joy *) and my lovers far from me, and hast turned away my kinsmen." So also Christ cried out in his suffering, "My God, my God, how hast thou forsaken me!" Psalm 22:2, Matt. 27:46, which all leads to the fact that we stand miserable and forsaken in the cross, and no one has compassion on us, but everything falls away from us, even, as it can be seen, God Himself. That is called a cross. Blessed is he who does not get angry there and holds on tight, thinking that it is a transition, that God does not remain outside.
But how is such a cross found? First, it is found hidden in the Gospel, where we are told that we will have to suffer many things for Christ's name, that we will be persecuted, martyred and killed, Matth. 5, 11. and 10, 22. Then it is found in his own knowledge, namely, in his heart, that I renounce my will completely. I renounce my will completely, think nothing of myself, deny myself altogether, and let God's will alone rule in me. This hurts the flesh and sours its nostrils; that is to kill and crucify the old Adam. There the cross is invented rightly; but then one lifts it up, if one considers it great and is happy about it. This is what happens when my old rogue is now dead and I have become new through the Holy Spirit, the
*) Instead of "joy", b has "friends". D. Red.
I have received into my heart, which then makes me merry to bear and acquiesce to God's will, he does with me as he wills that I be merry to it.
(9) Such cheerfulness does not remain outside in the outward persecution when we are tortured, chased away or killed. Therefore, we read of the dear holy martyrs that they went to death with cheerful, undaunted courage, and immediately despised death and torture, which is against nature. Therefore Lucas says in the Acts of the Apostles Cap. 5, 41: "But they departed gladly from the presence of the council, because they had been worthy to suffer shame for his name's sake." Even though it may seem sour and bitter to you, remember the Lord Christ, who preceded you in torture and suffering, and who was not made sweet, and that he suffered innocently for your sake, to save you from sin, death, the devil and hell, and to make you a child of eternal blessedness; then the cross and death will also become sweet to you.
(10) There is a fine figure in Moses: "When the children of Israel wandered three days in the wilderness, and found no water, they came to Marath, and there they found water; but they could not drink of the water for bitterness, because it was almost bitter. Then the people murmured against Moses, and Moses cried unto the Lord, and the Lord gave him a tree, and he put it into the water, and it became sweet," Exodus 15:22-25. By which history it is actually signified that suffering and temptation or persecution become sweet when the cross and suffering of Christ are submerged therein. Not that you think your suffering and cross will make you happy if you bear it patiently and cheerfully; by no means, as some foolishly and seductively think: but think so that you may have an example in the cross and suffering of Christ, how he, who after all was innocent, was patient about it, so that you also may be patient and bear your cross cheerfully.
(11) For just as our works do not save us, neither does our cross or suffering save us; Christ alone is our salvation, having accomplished it by his death and cross. If you believe this, you are blessed and have eternal life.
to which you must now come through your death as through a door. For this reason you should also suffer the cross patiently, so that your neighbor may also be tempted to bear his cross patiently. So we would celebrate the invention of the holy cross, and this celebration would also be comforting to us in our temptation; but we celebrate now that it would be better if the cross were neither invented nor exalted; we deal with it as children play with a stick. May God grant that we may one day recognize our error and be right in the matter. Christ Jesus, our Savior, helps us to do this, amen.
12 The other abuse. It may be that in some places one has the holy cross; but now it is so in many places that even a house could be built of it. Therefore there is a greater abuse in our times than in the time of Helena, when it was invented and raised bodily; now it is buried spiritually again. Much better would it never have been invented, and no sin would it be, if it had remained buried under the earth. When Christ lays out another cross for us to bear, or holds it out to us, saying, "If any man will come unto me, let him take up his cross, and follow me." Christ says that I carry my cross; that I want to carry Christ's cross, he does not ask anything. If Christians carried the cross like this, there would be few Christians, because it is carried only by bishops and prelates, set in a silver monstrance. He carries his, you carry yours, otherwise an idolatrous devotion comes from it in carrying and kissing etc. It is more that you give something to your neighbor and come to his aid, than when you kiss the cross, put on four lights etc.; it is like mirror fencing. The Gospel tells us about a cross, which is two things. The first is that a "cross" is suffering, which comes with shame and disgrace; the other is that he is crucified, martyred, and scourged. This is also not a real cross, but a reproach (being scorned), suffering misery, that one must suffer and be wronged before the whole world. But sickness, poverty, woe etc. is not called a cross; but suffering, passio ignominiosa, that is, when one suffers persecution for the sake of his faith, that is called a cross.
This is what the pope does to those who are called heretics and are burned and killed. As happened to John Hus and many others, whom the world considered a heretic, and so violence and injustice were done to him, and before God was no heresy. It also happened to the apostles and other saints, who were rejected and persecuted before all men, as was Christ. So of all who bear the cross, it is written by the prophet: Considerabam ad dexteram: "I looked to the righteous (right), and saw, and he was not who recognized me. The flight is corrupted from me, and was not he that sought again my soul." "The escape is corrupted from me," that is, I cannot escape, I must hold. The cross shall be, of which there is no honor, everywhere forsaken and spurned. Psalm: Elongasti a me amicum: "You have taken from me my friend and neighbor, and there has been none to come to my aid." So Christ says, "Blessed is he who is not offended in me." Christ did many miraculous signs and preached, and yet in the end was so shamefully blasphemed and martyred, even so despised by all, that they all said, even some of his own: It serves him right! And so he is forsaken by all.
But how is it found? Not in decided vaults, but in the gospel and in his own knowledge. This is invented the cross: to know oneself or to know the cross. Where do you find it? In the heart. If the invention is not, the outward is of no use. You must not be baptized far and wide; you will find it in the heart, whoever teaches and instructs you differently will deceive you. How is it raised? When the cross is invented, it is exalted; that is, it is esteemed great and is rejoiced in. But just as the invention is, so is the elevation. There is the cross: Qui vult venire: "Whoever will come to me, let him take up his cross and follow me." You must come to say: O Lord God, if I were worthy! You must be as joyful as the dear saints were. Thus we read Apost. 5: Ibant Apostoli: "The apostles went away rejoicing that they should suffer something and be despised.
den." Thus you sanctify the cross and honor God rightly. God does not want you to honor Him with outward works, but only your neighbor; with the heart you shall honor Him in suffering or the cross.
(14) If you want to sacrifice a lot on the cross, or kiss it, or give a lot of money to a monstrance, what good will it do your neighbor? Giving a penny to your neighbor is more and better than offering a whole florin on the cross. A maid who sweeps the house in obedience does better than to leave it standing and go and kiss the cross.
The glory of the cross must be inward in the heart, that is, that I thank God that I should suffer; which must be done from a joyful will to the cross or to death. As David says in Psalmo: Pretiosa in conspectu Domini: "Precious in the sight of God is the death of his saints." From where? Is it not a miracle to have such a willing will to death, because everyone fears the same? That is, sanctified the cross. So we should also sanctify it, just like the saints, that is, they were glad that they had to suffer. Summa Summarum: Whoever wants to come to Christ must follow him and carry his own cross on his back. But unfortunately, nowadays we handle the cross, carry it in a golden monstrance or with other carved crosses, and think that it is enough. To this end, we should tolerate the crosses, so that they provoke us to remember the cross of Christ, that is, how he was wronged before the whole world, and yet was right and innocent. Therefore whoever wants to come to Christ, carry his cross etc., that is: Get up, take your cross; even if it is sour and bitter, remember that Christ was also bitter and heavy. Remember him, and it will be easy and sweet. We have a figure of this in the Book of Mosiah, Exodus 15: Just as the children of Israel could not drink the water Marath (Mara) - for Marath means bitter water -, God gave Mosiah a wood, which, when it was lowered into the water, the waters became sweet. So also the cross becomes sweet, if you think that Christ also suffered; the
2248 A 1". M7-ÄSS. On the day of the Holy Corpus Christi. W. XI. SSSS-NSS. 2249
means then to put Christ's cross into yours and not presume to be cleansed or justified by it. For just as our works do not make us blessed, neither does your cross make you blessed. As Christ has borne his cross, so must you bear yours. Christ died for thee, and hath already redeemed thee: thou therefore also shalt bear thy cross, not that thou mayest be saved, but for thy neighbor's good, that thou mayest be justified.
he sees it, and is also provoked to carry his cross. Unfortunately, we are now celebrating the holy cross in such a way that I would like it to be neither elevation nor invention; with vain childish manner we go about. But I pray that you will not pervert my words, and send yourselves to sanctify your cross: it now arises that we are persecuted and called heretics. May God help us all to bear it willingly and cheerfully, amen].