The
The following considerations are
summarized from the original text of a conference given by Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira.
Although not an exegete, I naturally try to reason
things out. Knowing that nothing happens fortuitously in the New and Old
Testaments, it is according to the good rules of exegesis to ask why Our Lord
fell three times.
This was not mere chance, like a plumber who falls
three times while carrying a very heavy pipe. He fell once because he stumbled
on a stone, another time because he was really tired or a third time because he
was lazy. It was not something accidental.
Since Our Lord fell three times, the number three must
correspond to high considerations and elevated reflections about weariness,
suffering and even the number three itself. Therefore, I will try to draw
conclusions from the fact that the tiredness of Our Lord Jesus Christ was
manifested in three falls as He carried His Cross.
I cannot investigate this matter as an exegete, but
rather as a reasonable man with common sense.
Legitimate and Illegitimate
Tiredness
Clearly, there are two forms of tiredness. One is
illegitimate, which Our Lord did not have. The other is legitimate tiredness
that Our Lord did have.
Illegitimate tiredness exists when a person lacks love
of God and carries his burden unwillingly. This is the tiredness of the
slothful.
For example, a man who is accustomed to sleeping
twelve hours a day, wakes up tired and spends the
whole day tired, because he is lazy. Obviously, Our Lord never had this
tiredness since He was Perfection Itself.
True Tiredness Has Three Degrees
of Intensity
The First Degree: When Common Energies Become
Exhausted
Common experience teaches us that there is also the
tiredness of an active or dedicated man, which has three degrees of intensity.
There are also three corresponding degrees of exertion and human resistance.
Thus, it is reasonable to imagine that these three degrees relate to the three
The first degree of tiredness is when a man carries a
burden until all his common energies are exhausted and falls under its weight.
The very act of falling causes him to recover a bit
and he has a second inspiration, whereby he mobilizes his more profound energy.
Admirably controlling his body, he calls upon all the latent strength inside
him. Although not accustomed to mobilizing this energy in daily life, he
harnesses it and forges ahead.
During the first fall, man reasons: “This is terribly
difficult! I cannot do it. However since it must be done, I want to carry this
burden and make this effort despite its difficulty. I want to make this act of
dedication and accomplish my mission.”
He reflects: “If I really dig deep, maybe I can summon
new courage and find the strength I need to continue.”
Thus, there is a second mobilization of the soul’s
energy. The soul makes a greater effort and moves on until the next fall: the
second degree of tiredness.
The Second Degree of Tiredness:
The Soul Makes Use of All It Has and Falls Again
In this second degree, the soul reflects: “I mobilized
all that I had and did all that I could. Still, I have
fallen again under the weight of this burden. Now, my energies are more
exhausted than during the first fall. Nevertheless, I have already drawn from
myself more than I ever imagined possible and I still want to move forward. I
don’t want to give up.”
Tempted to discouragement, he considers: “Although my
mission is noble and worthwhile, the weight of my burden has increased.” He has
no more energy, so he increases his prayers and turns to Our Lady, saying: “My
Mother, thou seest that, on my own, I can go no further. Either thou wilt help
me more than before, or I will be unable to do what thou biddest me.”
Observing himself more closely, groping honestly
through his energy reserves, he finds that there is still something left to
sacrifice. His prayer has been answered. Besides the energy of which he was
unaware, he finds new supernatural strength that permits him to continue. He
rises a second time and advances, supported more by the angels than by himself.
He realizes that there was something more to give.
Though unable to walk, he can still drag himself along. He has decided to
accomplish his mission, even if he has to ask God for a miracle.
The Third Stage of Tiredness:
Everything Is Exhausted
In the third stage, he falls once again. He is a wreck
and realizes he no longer has any capacity to resist. His available energies
are completely exhausted. Still, he does not give in. He turns to himself and
says:
“I must hope against all hope. Although I only have
energy to stand, I must at least get back on my feet and try to take one step.
Beyond this, everything is blind confidence, a dark night and total exhaustion,
but I will walk no matter what. I will arrive at the end.”
He gets back on his feet and walks. In so doing, he
gives something from the very depth of his being that he never imagined he
possessed. He exhausts what truly is the last breath of his soul and performs
the most complete act of love. Only then, when he gives himself entirely does
he attain the clearest vision of his ideal.
He rises from the third fall, and takes a few more
stumbling steps to arrive at the place of sacrifice. There, he is nailed to the
cross and utterly immolated.
The Three Degrees Summarized
These are the three degrees of tiredness, which
correspond to the three stages of human dedication. In the first stage, one
expends the energy that he knows he has. He asks for Our Lady’s help and the
common assistance of grace.
In the second stage, he expends energy he scarcely
thought he had and asks Our Lady with greater insistence to send special help,
because he doubts that he can continue to walk with only the common assistance
of grace.
In the third stage, he gives something far beyond what
he thought he had. He finds a capacity for dedication and effort, beyond what
he thought was possible. He advances amid total darkness, more by a miracle and
absolute faith, than by any natural means.
Nevertheless, he continues to move forward. Finally,
he fulfills his mission by a truly miraculous action. He is completely united
with the supernatural.
When the Soul Has Given All It
Can, It Attracts Souls
To the degree that he rises after each legitimate
fall, man increasingly exudes the beauty of self-denial. This increases his
capacity to attract others, because men loath egoism and flee from it. Men only
follow those who deny themselves. Thus, only the man who has reached this
ultimate point of self-denial and given all he can, is
ready to attract souls.
This is why Our Lord, after having fallen three times,
was ready to be shown to all peoples from the height of the Cross. He had
already passed through this interior immolation. He had been despoiled of
everything.
Still, the inexpressible sublimity of the Crucifixion
takes place after the sacrifice is made. Our Lord had already carried the Cross
all the way to
There are stages in the spiritual life of every man,
where he must carry his cross. Moreover, at times Our Lord calls man not only
to accept what befalls him, but also to seek out what is terrible, tragic and
apocalyptic and advance towards it. Only then, is he ready to go where Our Lord
wishes. Then, he is ready to be nailed to the Cross and unite himself with
Christ for all time.
Therefore, there are two stages and three dimensions
of suffering. The first stage is to meet the Cross. The second is to let
oneself be nailed to it. In the first stage, man goes to the apex of
renunciation, successfully despoiling himself. In a second stage, having
arrived at the apex of renunciation, he disposes himself to remain in it
throughout his life and the cross becomes his support.