Since starting this ministry, I must say Simon of Cyrene is someone who has become very near and dear to my heart. I pray that you are getting to know him also as you carry your cross, which is also the cross Christ bore for you.
I know without a doubt, it is sometimes very difficult to comprehend what exactly Christ did for us in regards to our own human suffering. The only way this is possible to understand is with the gift of faith, if you feel that you do not have this kind of faith, that believes and yet does not see ask Our Father in Heaven for this gift of FAITH. He will cover you and take care of you as you ask HIM. Trust in Him, who loves you more then any other ever will!
I believe Simon was given this FAITH as he carried the cross with Christ, this is what we do as we embrace our own cross with Christ, this is the chaplet of Hannah’s Tears, uniting our cross with Christ and our yes with Mary our mother in Heaven. Let us ask St. Simon for his intercession as we learn to embrace our own cross with Christ each and every day that we may receive the give of “Faith, Hope, and Joy” in the midst of our sufferings God will use it for HIS GREATER GLORY!
Cyrene the principal city of that part of northern Africa which was sufficiently called Cyrenaica, lying between Carthage and Egypt, and corresponding with the modern Tripoli. Though on the African coast, it was a Greek city, and the Jews were settled there in large numbers. The Greek colonization of this part of Africa under Battus began of early as B.C. 631. After the death of Alexander the Great it became a dependency of Egypt, and a Roman province B.C. 75. Simon, who bore our Savior’s cross, (Matthew 27:32) was a native of Cyrene. Jewish dwellers in Cyrenaica were in Jerusalem at Pentecost, (Acts 2:10) and gave their name to one of the synagogues in Jerusalem. (Acts 6:9) Christian converts from Cyrene were among those who contributed actively to the formation of the first Gentile church at Antioch. (Acts 11:20)
Matthew 27:32 And coming forth, they found a man, a
Cyrenian, by name Simon: him they impressed that he might bear his cross.
Mark 15:21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
Luke 23:26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, whose most dear Son, as He walked the way of the Cross, accepted the service of Simon of Cyrene to carry his physical burden for him: grant us each the grace gladly to bear one another’s burdens, for the love of him who said, “As you did it to the least of these my brethren, you did it to me,” your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Apostolate of Hannah's Tears 