The Letter to the Friends Of The Cross by St. Louis de MontfortMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was truly a Lenten surprise! I previously read St. Louis Marie de Montfort's True Devotion to Mary, and although I found it quite enriching, it proved to be one of the most difficult books I had ever attempted to read - this coming from someone who has studied Phenomenology! So, my expectations were quite low, and even though this booklet was a gift to my wife by a Monseigneur friend of ours, I did not rush to open it and read it.
One of the things that attracted me to this book was its length. It comes in at under 40 pages, the main text is actually 25 pages long, and then there's an eight page ode to the Cross at the end.
The impetus of the book is Christ's admonition to us: "If any one wishes to come after Me let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." (Luke 8-23)
De Montfort takes this message to heart and shows us that we cannot be followers of Christ (who was not spared His Passion), and expect not to suffer along with Him. If He, God's perfect Son, suffered, then we, imperfect beings that we are, should expect as much.
This is not a book for every Catholic. Those who embrace de Kempis' Imitation of Christ (one of my favorite Lenten spiritual readings) will also embrace the spirituality contained in this booklet. In fact, de Montfort cites The Imitation in one passage.
If you are looking for a short spiritual work to help you contemplate the Cross, this is it.
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