# The Cross of Merciful Love of Collevalenza; The Devotion of Venerable Mother Speranza
*2015-12-30*

> Bill Young introduces the Cross of Merciful Love, a devotion rooted in the writings of Venerable Mother Speranza, and explains the symbolism of the crucifix she helped design.

## Historical Background

The devotion of Merciful Love has deep roots in the Church. St. Margaret Mary Alacoque spread the devotion to the Sacred Heart in the 1600s. St. Teresa of Ávila offered herself to the merciful love of Jesus in the 16th century, and in more recent times St. Faustina conveyed the merciful love of Christ to the world. Venerable Mother Speranza (also known as Mother Speranza) was called by God to translate this devotion into a concrete way of life.

## The Image of Merciful Love

According to Mother Speranza’s diary, Jesus helped her understand how to create an image of His merciful love. In 1930 a Spanish sculptor was commissioned to fashion a crucifix that would portray the love that brought Jesus to the cross, not merely the agony of the crucifixion. Mother Speranza wrote that the image should inspire the exclamation of the centurion at Calvary: “Truly, this man was the Son of God.”

The crucifix has several distinctive features:
• Jesus is depicted alive, his body not torn or crushed, but upright as a willing victim.
• His face conveys serenity even amid suffering.
• His gaze is lifted toward heaven as He says, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
• The word “CHRISTI” is written on His heart.
• Behind the crucifix is the Blessed Eucharist, reminding us that the Lord renews the sacrifice of the cross each day.
• The globe at the base symbolizes the universal scope of God’s saving love.
• The crown represents Christ as King reigning from the cross.
• An open book on the left side bears the Gospel passage John 15:12 – “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

## Theological Meaning

The Cross of Merciful Love invites us to live the new commandment of love. By sharing Christ’s love through our own suffering and sacrifice, we become members of the Kingdom of God. As John 13:35 reminds us, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

*The Cross of Merciful Love calls us to embody Christ’s self‑offering love, drawing the world into the kingdom of mercy.*