Following in the Footsteps of Christ Who Suffered For You

By St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite

Together with the other benefits you can receive from the holy contemplation of the Crucifixion, there is the following:

A) Feel sorry and hurt not only for your past sins, but also for the passions still living inside you, that put your Lord on the Cross.

B) Ask His forgiveness for your trespasses as well as Grace, to hate yourself completely in order to not sadden Him more. Indeed, as a gift for so much of His suffering, love Him and serve Him completely from now on. This cannot be done without this holy hatred for your sins.

C) Get rid of every evil inclination from within you, no matter how small it is.

D) Strive with all your strength to imitate the virtues of your Redeemer, who suffered not only to save us by paying for our sins, but also to give us an example to follow in His holy footsteps:

"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps" (1 Pet. 2:21).

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.