“Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

 

The Sodality of the Hidden Cross, is a spiritual apostolate of our Franciscan Tertiary Community for those who carry the often unseen crosses of illness, chronic pain, grief, loneliness, anxiety, hardships, or any other physical or spiritual suffering.

Inspired by the Franciscan spirituality of embracing the cross, members unite their daily sufferings with the Cross of Jesus Christ, offering them for the glory of God and for the prayer intentions entrusted to the Sodality.  Through this ministry of prayer and sacrifice, even the greatest trials become a powerful source of grace for the Church and for souls.  Membership to this Sodality of the Third Order of St. Francis is open to everyone.  Being a Franciscan Tertiary is not a requirement to be a member of the Sodality.  Anyone who faithfully bears a cross and desires to offer it to God in union with Christ is warmly invited to become a member.

Members of the Sodality are asked to:

1. Offer their physical and/or spiritual sufferings to God each day.
2. Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be daily for the intentions entrusted to this apostolate (see below.)
3. On the first Friday or first Saturday of each month, pray the Prayer to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted.

The prayer intentions of the apostolate are:

1. For the Catholic Church, our Holy Father and his intentions, our bishops and priests and for religious vocations.
2. For the prayer intentions of the Franciscan Tertiary community.

Upon enrollment, members will receive:

1. Welcome letter
2. Certificate of membership in the Sodality of the Hidden Cross
3. A “Commitment Card” with prayers requested and prayer intentions
4. Prayer to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted

As members faithfully offer their sufferings and prayers, they become part of a spiritual family united in prayer.   Our Franciscan Tertiary Community will faithfully remember every member of the Sodality in its daily prayers, praying especially for their personal intentions, perseverance, strength and holiness.  Each member’s name is inscribed in the Book of Prayers of the Sodality of the Hidden Cross.  This book is a continual reminder of our commitment to remember every member before God in prayer.

If you or someone you know is carrying a heavy cross and would like to transform that burden into a daily offering of love for God and neighbor, we warmly invite you to join our Sodality of the Hidden Cross.

For more information, or to enroll in the sodality, please contact Trudi Vetterly from the St. Pio TOF Fraternity or click here.

 

“Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted, pray for us.”