Catholic & Single Meditation on the crucifix for single Catholics

Apr 27, 2011

For Catholics, the Crucifix is essential for living our daily lives. The Crucifix is the symbol of Christ’s ultimate act of love for us. The Crucifix depicts Jesus nailed to the cross and dying for our sins. We hang a crucifix on the walls of our homes and wear a crucifix on a chain around our necks so that we will be visibly reminded of Jesus’ love for us and our redemption.

For those who desire a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, the Crucifix also serves as an ideal focus of meditation. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen said that the summary of all our sins can be found on the Crucifix. It is, therefore, the perfect way to examine our consciences.

Examining our consciences while gazing on the Crucifix will differ from person to person primarily depending on our state in life. For unmarried Catholics who are open to marriage and are dating members of the opposite sex, an examination of conscience while meditating on the Crucifix should include considerations related to the desire and efforts toward marriage.

The things Jesus suffered on the cross are have a direct correlation to the sins we all commit, and he suffered through His body for them all. The following is an example of what a single Catholic might consider at they meditate on the Crucifix:

The Sacred Head crowned with thorns - The sins we commit in our mind
The head containing the very mind of God with all wisdom and knowledge is used for a sick joke to mock Him as king by the crowning with piercing thorns.

Do I allow and foster impure thoughts?
Do I allow myself to think ill will about members of the opposite sex?&
Am I still scarred from past relationships that my attitude going into a new relationship is to be close minded
Do I harbor resentment for those who have hurt me in the past, and allow that to affect my current relationship?
Am I thinking about other things while with someone I am dating?
Do I think about someone else I would prefer to be with?
Do I date people I already know I would never be open to love and marriage with just to have someone to go on a date with?
Do I think about inappropriate sexual things while on a date?
Do I try to think of ways to get the person I am dating to have sex with me?

The hands nailed to the wood of the cross - The sins we commit with our hands
Hands that touched and were raise for healing and performing miracles are nailed to wood like common parchment.

Have I tried to touch a person I am dating inappropriate or impurely?
Have I ever physically hit someone I am dating?
Have I avoided doing things for the person I am dating like cooking for them, or doing works of charity?
Do I masturbate while looking at images of the opposite sex or thinking about the person I am dating?
Do I type dishonest information about myself or send uncharitable messages on dating websites?

The feet nailed to the wood of the cross - The sins we commit with our feet
The feet that took Jesus all over Judea so that so many people could experience the Incarnate Word among us and come to believe are now made stationary with one nail through both feet.

Have I used the gift of walking to go to places I do not belong?
Have I walked into places of pornography?
Do I avoid going out on dates because I would rather indulge in my own selfish interests?
Do I procrastinate going to places or into environments that offer me a chance to meet a quality person of the opposite sex?

The body of Christ stripped of His garments - The sins we commit of the flesh
As if He is not humiliated enough from the scourging and the carrying of his cross, Jesus is made to be fully exposed in body as His clothes are removed.

Have I exposed myself to a person I am dating inappropriately, which is harmful to both of us?
Have I tried to remove the clothing of the person I am dating in an attempt to engage in pre-marital sex?
Do I show too much of my body publicly?

The Sacred Heart pierced with a lance - The sins we commit in our heart
Blood and water bursts out from Jesus’ side after his Sacred Heart is pierced, showering the crowds with the fullest extent of His love and cleansing those who would be splashed with the graces of mercy.

Am I protective of the heart of the person I am dating?
Am I careful not to break the heart of the person I am dating through insensitivity or selfishness?
Do I see the heart of the person I date as something to win and make feel safe?
Am I too quick to allow my heart to feel love for someone I am dating as to make it vulnerable to heartbreak?
Is my heart closed off and too guarded as to not allow a nice person I am dating to get to know me and to foster love?
Am I patient and gentle about creating an atmosphere in my dating relationship that makes the other feel safe to share themselves with me?
Am I a good friend, or am I hard to get to know and too quick to cut someone off when things go wrong?
Do I lust after members of the opposite sex in my heart?
Does my heart desire things that are incompatible with true love and marriage?
Do I allow my heart to be attached to someone I am no longer dating or whom I could never be married to?

The outstretched arms - The sins we commit of being unwelcoming
Jesus’ arms are pulled out as far as they can go, as if to show us that God loves us that much (both arms held out in full extension). Who among us can ever extend our arms out in full and say we love anyone that much?

Am I a welcoming person and make people feel comfortable?
Are my arms always outstretched and open to comforting those who need it?
Do I offer my arms to give hugs?
Do I offer the person I am dating chaste hugs to show my affection and care?
Is my attitude in life to smile and open my arms to receive, or do I always look miserable and reserved and keep my arms to my side as to be stand offish?

The suffering in silence - The sins we commit with our lips and our speech
Amidst the chaos of the crowd shouting at Jesus to save Himself and come down from the cross, He silently endures, speaking very little, and only when necessary.

Am I quick to talk and slow to listen?
Do I speak without thinking or consideration for the other person?
Do I enjoy complaining to friends about bad dates or the opposite sex?
Do I remain silent and accept annoying things on a date, or do I have to make comments? Do I look for positive things to say about the person I am dating, or do I only have negative things to say?
Do I say “I’m sorry” when I have said or done something wrong?
Do I say things that will help resolve problems with the person I am dating, or do I remain silent and allow things to get worse while waiting for the other to make things right?
Do I say the words “I love you” too prematurely or without backing it up with actions that prove love?
Do I speak kindly and with self control, or do I raise my voice or shout to make my points? Do I do all the talking?
Do I keep to myself too much and make the other uncomfortable trying to find things to talk about?
Am I abusive in my conversations the person I am dating, making them feel bad, hurting their feelings, or trying to manipulate them?
Do I have a sincere desire to use the give of speech to build up others and not tear them down?

The eyes impaired by blood and closing from death approaching - The sins we commit with our eyes
The blood from Jesus’ pierced head drips into his eyes, which now have only a distorted vision of the world.

Do I look appropriately at the opposite sex?
Do I realize that my eyes are the windows to my soul and everything I look at affects me?
Do I lack the will power to guard my eyes from those things I know are wrong?
Do I partake in looking at pornography?
Do I watch too much television or too many movies?
Do I partake in too much media entertainment, or watching the news?
Do I feel I need to see the things I allow myself to see?
Do I look at the person I am dating when I talk or listen to them, or do I look away a lot?
Do I make my date feel uncomfortable by looking at him or her inappropriately?
Do I look at members of the opposite sex while I am out with my date?
Am I wise and prudent about what I watch and read?
Do I criticize the person I am dating when I observe what they do?
Do I dress modestly when I go out on a date so I am not an occasion of sin?
Do I do inappropriate things to get the attention of members of the opposite sex?
Do I observe the needs of the person I am dating and do what I can in charity, or to be a gentleman or lady?
Do I pay close attention to the things that are unique about the person I am dating and their interests so I can really get to know them?
Do I do things for the person I am dating that shows that I have been paying attention to who they are?

The blood poured out from every part of the body - The sins we commit from holding back giving our life to others
Jesus is visibly unrecognizable as He is covered in His own blood from head to toe, showing that love holds back nothing, willingly goes to the furthest extent, and can affect our our outward appearance as well as our inner being.

Am I the kind of person who will do anything for anyone without counting the costs?
Do I desire to pour out my life for the person I will eventually marry?
Do I practice the concept of total self giving through the people that are in my life? Am I selfish?
Am I overly concerned with looks when discerning a suitable partner, or do I understand that love goes beyond outward appearance?
Do I understand that looks change as love is lived over time?
Do I make sure I always have what I want and do what I want, even before service to others?
Do I get upset when things do not go as planned?
Am I impatient with the person I date and don’t give the relationship a chance to develop?
Am I only looking for someone who will serve me and please me in every way when I am dating, or for someone whom I can serve and give my entire self to?
Do I have the capability of loving someone with all their faults and imperfections, or am I only willing to consider marriage if I know I the other person will always make me happy and never hurt me?
Do I see myself giving in marriage as Jesus gave in love for us on the cross?
Am I willing to choose a suitable partner and move forward with a loving marriage, or am I always making excuses for why I should not give myself completely to one person?

These are but a few questions to consider. As you pray before the Crucifix, allow the Holy Spirit to inspire you with further details of your life. It is all there on the cross for you to discover.