Yesterday, we reflected on the theme of integration, and especially how all of Jesus' life was fully integrated in showing who He was. We know that the journey to Lent is more than just remembering Jesus' own passion and resurrection, as important as that is. It's also about responding to Jesus' invitation to join Him on the path to Calvary, to go from being a bystander to a participant. And that's a hard thing to do, especially with all those little pebbles in the road that trip us up. Today, let's think a little about some of the things that stub our toes or get caught in our shoes, out there on the Lenten journey. You know, those annoying little pebbles we can't seem to shake out of our footwear until we sit down and deal with them. Taken all together, these small irritations can overwhelm us. They certainly cause us to lose our focus. What might some of these pebbles be? Perhaps one is an uncomfortable memory that arrives just as we are drifting off to sleep. Maybe another is the family member who bullies, while saying it's due to concern. Or what about that driver who cuts you off and almost causes a wreck? The list is endless. Just like pebbles in the road, these thoughts and experiences are a multitude, multiplying, distracting and clamoring for our attention. But the Pebbles Cross shows us the solution to the never-ending problem of small irritations that can push us off balance. If we can gather up all these annoying pebbles and offer them up, make them part of our Lenten sacrifice, then we can turn the tables and make those little rocks work for our good. This, of course, is not easy, especially when it is 2:00am and you can't get rid of that one memory. This is also why we don't pretend to be walking this path alone. Not only are we spiritually walking towards Jerusalem with Jesus, but we are also walking with a whole community of people who like us, are also struggling along the way, and we can help each other. This is the great gift of belonging to the Church. What pebble are you carrying? Not only does the Pebble Cross represent the individual scratches and scars each of us carries, but it also shows us the power of community, of not going it alone. We might have difficulty in letting go of one particular pebble, but if we are walking with other people, often they are the ones who can show us how to lift it up. When you are walking with others, you hear their stories and come to understand their pain as well as their victories. And through this sharing, we can gain the benefit of their wisdom and support. Finding this companionship can be as simple as joining a Bible study, or a playgroup or any small group of believers who gathers to help each other, to give each other support and encourage one another to keep going.
Although we tend to think of Lent as a long, solitary trek to Good Friday, that's not the case. Jesus did not make the journey alone and neither should we. If we find that we are struggling with a particular pebble - or the same two or three pebbles - during this holy season, perhaps the solution lies in finding others who have already stopped, sat down, and shaken that same pebble out of their shoe, instead of trying to do it on our own. Let us pray: Holy Trinity, help us avoid the belief that we must do everything ourselves. Guide us to understand that you have given us each other in the Church so that we can support and help each other. Inspire us to find the help we need to overcome the pebbles we trod on each day. And in all things, let us praise you. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
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Today's cross, the Life of Christ cross, is all about one thing - integration. Integration is ultimately the final goal of the Lent journey, because we seek to become whole and holy, just as Jesus was. Being integrated means that all parts of ourselves are in their proper place and are used according to their purpose, physically, mentally, spiritually, internally, communally - all the "llys." We know Jesus was fully integrated. Although He was both human and divine, there was never any fragmentation in Him. There was never a time when He did or said something that was contrary to who He was and is. All His actions, all His movements, all His teachings were all united to illuminate who He was, the second person of the Holy Trinity who became human so that we could become divine. We, of course, are not fully integrated. St. Paul put it well when he said, "For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing." (Romans 7:19-20) We are a work in progress, a people 'on the way' to becoming united with God. Lent gives us the chance to become more united, to overcome our fragmentation and grow towards who God wants us to be individually, within ourselves, as well as communally, with others as the church in the world. We are a work in progress, a people 'on the way.' So how do we work on becoming integrated? How do we work on letting Jesus' life flow through and out of us? We work on integration through prayerful meditation of Christ's life. Let's practice, using the cross above as a guide:
First Tile - Jesus' birth. Do we value innocence and humility? Or do we prefer to look sophisticated and smart? Are we willing to make room for others, especially when it is inconvenient or when we are busy? Second Tile - Jesus Teaching in the Temple as a Child Do we recognize the voice of God even when it comes in an unusual way? Are we willing to listen to others and try to understand them? Do we, like Mary and Joseph, diligently look for Jesus as the most important thing in our lives? Third Tile - Jesus Heals Do we believe in and act with Jesus' healing presence in our own lives? Do we pray to see how we are called to heal the difficult situations in our own lives? Fourth Tile - Jesus Teaches Do we accept Jesus' teachings because we believe in Him and His love for us? Do we try to invite and explain His teachings to others? Do we try to learn more about Jesus' teachings, so that we understand them and can integrate them into our own lives? Fifth Tile - Jesus' Crucifixion Do we take seriously Jesus' command to carry our own cross? Do we really try to die to our old life and to all that fragments us, that keeps us away from God? Are we willing to suffer and be made uncomfortable if that is what is necessary? Sixth Tile - Jesus' Ascension Do we believe in Jesus' ascension, and if so, do we live in and show the joy that this means? Do we feel a sense of urgency in sharing the Good News? Do we take to heart the words the angels spoke to the apostles at the ascension when they said, "Why are you standing there looking at the sky?" Do we realize there is work to be done, right now, here, today? As we continue our journey through Lent, let's pray for the grace to overcome the fragmentation caused by Original Sin and follow more closely the path of integration, so that we can do a little more of the good we want to do and grow in wholeness and holiness. Let us pray: Holy Trinity, help us recognize the fragmentation in ourselves that we have lived with for so long, we don't really see. Help us to heal from it, to overcome it, so that we may be more like Jesus Christ and move towards complete integration and peace. And in all things, let us praise you. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen The Mass readings today all emphasize the same theme - that of reconciliation, restoration and renewal. This reconciliation, restoration and renewal is not our own doing. It is the work of the Trinity, and we are invited to participate in it so that we are remade, because God says "Behold, I am doing something new." (Is 43:19). That's why the cross for today is the Painted Clay cross. It was made by a child and was entirely her own idea. She worked on it for hours, designing it, shaping it, making it into what she had originally envisioned. After getting the shape right, she told me, she baked it and finally painted it. She gave it to me as a gift, and I knew it had taken her lots of work. I loved it then, and I still do. She took some plain, ordinary clay, and with an image in mind, worked on it until it was something completely new, something she could give me as a gift. Just as my young friend had made something new with a bunch of plain clay, so God does with us when we allow Him to. Everything from today's Collect before the readings to the Gospel to the Prayer over the Offerings rejoices in God's ability to restore and renew, to take something old, tired and beaten up and transform it into a work of art. The Collect says: O God, who grant us by glorious healing remedies while on earth, to be partakers of the things of heaven, guide us, we pray, through this present life and bring us to the light in which you dwell. The Prayer Over the Offerings reads: Through these sacred gifts, O Lord, may our redemption yield its fruits, restraining us from unruly desires, leading us onward to the gifts of salvation. The Gospel is the much loved and well-known Parable of the Prodigal Son. The Collect, the Prayer Over the Offerings and especially the Parable of the Prodigal Son all proclaim God's ability to restore, to reconcile, and to renew. God is able to do what we can't. God the Father can welcome home His wayward children, who have acted as if He is dead and squandered their inheritance. Not only can God the Son go into the desert for 40 days and rebuke the devil three times, but He can also suffer an excruciating death and forgive the perpetrators as He is dying. God the Holy Spirit can inspire and guide us to do the same thing, to respond to difficult situations with a superabundance of grace, with the life of the Trinity. "May our redemption yield its fruits, restraining us from unruly desires, leading us onward to the gifts of salvation." This Lent let's imagine we are pieces of clay and allow God to mold us, to help us do the hard work of stretching and growing, so that we can move closer to being the people He created us to be.
Let us pray: Holy Trinity, help us remember that we are traveling with You through the desert in order to die to our old life and rise to a new one, so that we can be reconciled, restored and remade. Assist us in seeing where we need to tighten up and where we need to let go, so that we can become the creations You originally imagined. And in all things, let us praise you. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. This Lent journey of "40 crosses for 40 Days" is about cultivating a Catholic imagination, working on integrating the external and the internal by using one of our God-given faculties to ponder the symbols in our world, especially symbols of high significance like crosses, and connect them to our faith life. Uniting our imaginations with reason, not just with emotion and impulse, can open the door to true insight, into glimpsing the Really Real, the life of the Holy Trinity. The humble, handmade clothespin cross below gives us an opportunity to stretch the imagination. What does it help us understand? What does it inspire? What kind of place would it be hanging in, and who might have made it? How does it help us interpret and internalize the Cross of Christ, especially in the ordinary events of our everyday lives? Perhaps this cross speaks of a simple kitchen, of a flagstone floor swept clean, and white sheets drying in the wind on the clothesline outside. There is a simple supper being laid on the wooden table, kept simple because it is a Friday in Lent. The cross was fashioned from items that were available, and it serves its purpose. It elevates the mind and recalls the heart to the reason for Lent. As the poem below, Lent, by Robert Herrick, reminds us, this holy season calls us not to simply replace meat with plates filled "high with fish," but instead, to make an extra effort to give bread and meat to a "hungry soul," especially the spiritually hungry. The poem, like the cross, calls for an interior conversion that corresponds to our external actions. It reminds us to fast from strife, from old arguments and discord, to "circumcise our lives, and rend our hearts." In the final account, that is what it means "to keep Lent," to starve our sin at least as much as our stomachs, one clothespin, one simple task at a time. Lent by Robert Herrick* Is this a fast, to keep The larder lean ? And clean From fat of veals and sheep ? Is it to quit the dish Of flesh, yet still To fill The platter high with fish ? Is it to fast an hour, Or ragg’d to go, Or show A downcast look and sour ? No ; ‘tis a fast to dole Thy sheaf of wheat, And meat, Unto the hungry soul. It is to fast from strife, From old debate And hate ; To circumcise thy life. To show a heart grief-rent ; To starve thy sin, Not bin ; And that’s to keep thy Lent. Starve thy sin, not [just] thy bin. Let us pray: Holy Trinity, help us to keep Lent well. Remind us that the physical fasting and offerings we make should correspond to an interior change as well. And in all things, let us praise you. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
*Robert Herrick was a 17th century English poet who wrote on a number of everyday themes, from religion to spring to untidy clothes. Today is the fourth Friday of our Lent pilgrimage. Fridays during Lent are a little more solemn. We take them a little more seriously than the other days of the week because they offer an implicit connection to Good Friday. We once again focus on fasting. Although technically, we are just asked to abstain from eating meat on these Fridays, many Catholic households also respond by eating a little less in general, and maybe skipping dessert, in keeping with the extra solemnity inherent to these days. These Fridays give us a chance to focus, to turn our thoughts towards the Cross of Christ. That's why the cross for today is simple. It's subdued, earthy colors and small size invites us to collect our thoughts, place ourselves in the presence of the Lord, and concentrate. You may have seen a version of the statements below before. I've adapted it for our purpose here today. Use these statements to practice Fasting and Focusing on this Friday of Lent, connecting thoughts with actions. Read each line slowly, imagining you are walking next to Jesus, making your way to Jerusalem. FAST from judging others; FOCUS on Christ dwelling within them. FAST from thoughts of ill; FOCUS on God's healing power. FAST from thoughts that weaken; FOCUS on promises that inspire. FAST from words that criticize; FOCUS on words that praise. FAST from worry and problems that overwhelm; FOCUS on God's loving providence and prayer that sustains. FAST from what is life-stealing. FAST from idle gossip and suspicion;
FOCUS on silence with a purpose and truth. FAST from discouragement; FOCUS on offering hope. FAST from sorrow and anger; FOCUS on serenity and patience. FAST from personal anxiety and bitterness; FOCUS on eternal truth and forgiveness. Learn to FAST from evil and despair and FOCUS on the good things of God. (Source: unknown) Let us pray: Holy Trinity, unite our actions with our thoughts as we journey on this Lent pilgrimage, so that we do and say what pleases You. Help us to learn to fast from what is life-stealing and focus on You and Your promises, which are life-giving. And in all things, let us praise you. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen Yesterday , with the 13th cross, we thought about the connection between Christmas and Easter. One of the main symbols that we see during the Advent and Christmas season is that of light. We hang lights on our houses, we put lights on the Christmas tree. We countdown Advent by lighting the Advent wreath in our homes and in our churches. We do this because we know that the Light of the World enters at Christmas. The Verse Before the Gospel yesterday also brings up the symbol of light. It proclaims: "I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life." These words point to a couple of things. They recall Psalm 119, which contains the well-known phrase, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path." (Psalm 119:105) and the verse also quotes Jesus in the Gospel of John, when He says to the Pharisees, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12) When Jesus is talking about light, and especially when He is talking about actually being the light Himself, He is at the same time referring to light that reveals the glory of God. Light brings illumination, enlightenment, understanding and it can also sometimes bring wisdom. But when Jesus says He is the light He is talking about all the items just mentioned plus the overwhelming glory of God shown through, with and in this light. We should note that in Scripture, there is a fairly uniform reaction displayed by humans when they see the 'glory of God." They all fall down in terror. There is something so overwhelming, infinite and just holy about the glory of God, that anyone who sees it can't bear it. One cross in particular shines forth with the glory of God, and that's the San Damiano Cross from Italy. This is the cross that was hanging in the small, dilapidated chapel from whence St. Francis heard the voice asking him to "Rebuild my Church." This cross portrays Jesus as the Christ who reigns from His throne, the cross, in glory. The 'glory' is symbolized by the gold paint all around the cross. And what, really is the glory of God? It's not what we, humans, typically think of. St. Irenaeus put it succinctly when he said, "The glory of God is man fully alive!" God is most glorified when His holiness acts to save humanity, and we respond. That's what this cross shows. In fact, it tells the story of God's glory on display at Christ's crucifixion. "The Glory of God is man fully alive!" -St. Irenaeus Here's an explanation of all the imagery on this cross, from Franciscan Mission Service online:
*I am personally of the opinion that the small animal near the foot of Christ is a little dog. Dogs are often mentioned in Scripture due to their special role as companions for humans. They have also helped many saints. Let us pray: Holy Trinity, help us to recognize Your glory and walk towards it. Give us the strength to participate in it this Lent, especially in the crosses you ask us to carry in imitation of You. And in all things, let us praise you. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Although we don't usually think about it, the Lenten journey is the second half of the Christmas story. What begins in wonder and glory, in nighttime visits from heavenly messengers, in shepherds and kings, will, after tremendous suffering and a bitter passion, also end with angelic visits, wonder and even more glory. That's the True Meaning of salvation history. At Christmas, Jesus begins His journey to the cross by a taking on the body of a baby, a very young and helpless child. This was a deliberate teaching, as God could have descended to earth in any manner He chose. The readings at Mass yesterday emphasize a particular aspect of being a small child, namely the state of being humble, of being simple and open to instruction. The first reading from the prophet Isaiah admonishes the "princes of Sodom" and the "people of Gomorrah" to "wash themselves clean!" In fact, the tone of the first reading is somewhat like an exasperated parent trying to manage a tired toddler. " 'Come now, let us set things right," says the Lord." (Is 1:18) Put another way, that statement sounds a lot like "Come on, let's get you into the tub and wash off all that muck. And then we can have some cocoa by the fire and a story before bed." God, speaking through the prophet Isaiah says, "Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow. Though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool." (Is 1:18) This is God encouraging, even cajoling the children He loves to return to Him, to cleanse themselves and start again. "Come now, let us set things right," says the Lord. (Is 1:18) One of the mediations for February in Magnificat reminds us of the link between Christmas and Easter by repeating part of the Old Testament we typically hear in Advent. "And the people that dwelt in darkness see the great light; for God is with us. And you who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, light will shine upon you; because God is with us. And we have been given a Son; for God is with us. And the dominion will be on his shoulders; because God is with us.'
(From the Armenian Liturgy, reprinted in the February 2024 Magnificat) The promise begun at Christmas is fulfilled at Easter. Let us take the words of the prophet to heart and make a return to the Father who loves us by seeking to be like children again, who recognize the need for a good, hot bath, a nice supper and a chat by the fire, so that we can sleep in peace. Let us pray: Holy Trinity, help us recognize the parts of our lives where we are acting like the princes and kings of this world, and guide our steps back to being children of Your house. Help us live our Baptismal promises of rejecting the devil and all his works, aid us in participating well in the Eucharist, and keep us open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. And in all things, let us praise you. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Yesterday, we considered the role Faith plays during Lent, Today, let's talk about Faith's close sister - Belief. This cross, the Season to Believe cross, reminds us that belief is an active thing. If we say we have Faith, then we have to follow that Faith up by doing something. Belief is Faith put into action. We see this often in Scripture. Here are some examples:
The boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, Like those in Scripture, we are also called to put our faith into action, to show our belief by doing something. How we should act and what we should do varies, depending on our season in life and our circumstances. This Lent, let's ask ourselves: what are we being called to do? How are we being asked to merge the Season of Faith with the Season of Belief?
Let us pray: Holy Trinity, we ask you to show us how we are called to show our belief. Help us imitate Abraham, Moses, the 3 Wise Men and the father with the sick son in putting our faith into action. And in all things, let us praise you. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Here we are, making our way through the second full week of Lent. Eleven days in. Twenty-nine days to go. The 'honeymoon' phase of our Lenten Promise (how we will fast, pray and give alms) has likely worn off and now we are settling down into the heart of it. It's a good time to remind ourselves of the reason why we are making this journey. The Gospel reading from yesterday, the Second Sunday of Lent explains it all. We are in a season of faith, because, like the cross above says, "All things are possible with faith." But what things, exactly are we talking about? Let's revisit the Mass readings from yesterday for some understanding. The first reading, from the Book of Genesis, retells Abraham's test. God asks him to sacrifice his dearly beloved and only son, Issac, and, somehow, Abraham agrees. He is not only willing to give back to God his most dear son, but Abraham doesn't even really push back. Remember, this is the same man who is willing to go back and forth with God over saving Sodom and Gomorrah, if there are 50, then 45, then 40, then 30, then 10 good people there. Where's that spunk now? How can he possibly be so blasé about this request? Scripture doesn't record the internal struggle that Abraham must have had. But we do know that he agrees, and he sets out to the land of Moriah with Isaac "early the next morning." God has already promised Abraham that He would make his descendants like "the dust of the earth," (Gen 13:16) and the "stars in the sky." (Gen 15:5) How are these promises to happen if Isaac is killed? The answer is fairly simple. Abraham believed that God had power over life and death. If God took his son now, then He would have to give his son back a new life, in some way, so that God's promises would be fulfilled. With faith, all things are possible. Skipping ahead to the Gospel reading, we see the same idea. Jesus takes three of His closest friends, Peter, James and John, up the mountain with Him. The Gospel of Mark tells us that Jesus was "transfigured before them, and His clothes became dazzling white, such that no fuller on earth could bleach them." (Mk 9:2-3) But Jesus is not alone. "Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus." (Mk 9:4) The presence of Elijah, representing the Prophets, and Moses, representing the Law, conversing with Jesus signifies to us that God is about to fulfill all of His promises foretold through the prophets and established in the law. The giving of the new life, the new and eternal life, is about to occur. Jesus is preparing to make the self-offering of His own life that, at the last minute, was not asked of Isaac, so that His new life can be shared to all who follow Him to the cross. And that's why we are making this journey, this trek through 40 days of desert. We do it to experience our own mini deaths along the way, death to anything keeping us from dying with Jesus. We do this, not to just put ourselves through various trials and tribulations, but so that we can rise to new life, just as Jesus does. This was the hope of Abraham, this is why he was willing to offer his son back to the God who gave Isaac to him. This is the promise of Jesus at his Transfiguration. This is the promise of Lent. Incidentally, when the Season of Faith cross is hung up, the word "faith" in the green glass disappears and only the light coming through it can be seen. The promise of things to come fulfilled.
Let us pray: Holy Trinity, we pray for a strengthening of our faith, especially when, like Abraham, You ask us to suffer through difficult trials. Help us to persevere on our journey this Lent, so that we may truly die to our old life and rise to new life in Christ at Easter. And in all things, let us praise you. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Quick question - who is easier to love, God or your neighbor? Let's think about that. On the one hand, there is God. He is perfect. He loves us infinitely. He wants to help us in every way. He even desires for us to experience complete joy with Him for eternity. Also, and not insignificantly, our mistakes don't keep him from loving us. Now, let's think about our neighbors. In your mind, walk down the street in your neighborhood, or think about the people in your apartment block. Are they all easy to love? We might even expand this exercise outwardly from the small area where we live. Think about everyone at school, at the office, in your parish. Do you love them all? In today's Gospel reading, Jesus tells the disciples to "be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Mt 5:48) And what does 'perfection' entail, in the eyes of God? Jesus lays it out clearly. Being perfect is being like God. According to Jesus, this means we are to love our enemies and "pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for He makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust." God gives his love to everyone, whether they deserve it or not. Just as the sun rises in the morning and shines its light over every space, not just over the spaces who 'deserve it' or who have 'earned it,' but over every area it covers. In the same way, no one earns God's love. It is freely given to all. St. Catherine of Siena, in her Dialogue, explains this more in one of her conversations with God: God says to St. Catherine, "I ask you to love me with same love with which I love you. But for me you cannot do this, for I love you without being loved. Whatever love you have for me you owe me, so you love me not gratuitously but out of duty, while I love you not out of duty but gratuitously. So, you cannot give me the kind of love I ask of you. This is why I have put you among your neighbors: so that you can do for them what you cannot do for me–that is, love them without any concern for thanks and without looking for any profit for yourself. And whatever you do for them I will consider done for me." That's what the simple, paper cross above shows us. This cross was a Religious Education craft, cut and colored in when we were learning about St. Catherine. * The pictures above show the front and back of the same cross. The cross is almost identical on both sides. Only the words are different. We cannot add anything to God's love. God is already complete. So, God asks us to show our love for Him by loving our neighbor. "Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Mt 5:48) And therein is the real problem. God is easy to love when we think He's distant, and that our love for Him doesn't intrude much on our everyday life. But how is it possible to love everyone like God does? Not every one of our neighbors is a super lovable, reasonable, delightful gal or guy. In fact, some of them are downright Not Great. This seems like an impossible task. St. Thérèse of Lisieux, aka the Little Flower and, like St. Catherine of Siena, a Doctor of the Church, gives us some good advice. She says to God that "I know you don't command the impossible. You know very well that never would I be able to love others as you love them, unless you, O my Jesus, loved them in me. Your will is to love in me all those you command me to love." Maybe this Lent, we can focus on letting God love others through us, remembering He is always with us, and not just try do it ourselves. Perhaps this is one of the Hard Places the Holy Spirit is calling us to attend to. Let us pray: Holy Trinity, we pray for the grace to see others as You do. Help us remember that loving our neighbor is the same as loving You. Help us move ourselves aside to let Your love come through. And in all things, let us praise you. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Download and print the Love God/Love Neighbor Cross below. 1. Print one cross first. 2. Turn the page over and print the second cross, so that it is double-sided. 3. Cut it out and color it in, while reflecting on Mat 5:48
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40 Crosses for
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