Sometimes Gerard would pretend he was a Priest and say Mass. He would preach to his sisters, and his sisters would pretend they were grown up, and that their brother was a real Priest. One day, Gerard said to his playmates, "Let us make a big wooden Cross, and let us gather around it and say prayers and sing hymns. We can pretend we are Priests and preach to one another."

The found two pieces of rough wood, and made a big Cross, much bigger than themselves. They stood it up against a lovely green tree, and then they took turns in preaching to each other about Jesus, and how much He suffered on His Cross, and how much He loves us. It was Gerard's turn to preach and he stood in front of the children and told them to kiss the Cross because Jesus died on it. He told them they should always keep a little Cross in their bedroom where they can kiss it every night, and tell Jesus they are sorry for anything wrong they have done.

Suddenly, something wonderful happens. Sparkling rays of light start shining from the Cross, and the children are afraid the tree might go on fire. They covered their eyes with their hands because the light is so dazzling and bright. Gerard tells the children not to be afraid, and not to run away. He asks them to come closer, because the light is coming from the Cross, and when we are near the Cross, we are close to Heaven. From that day on, all the children kept a Cross  in their bedroom to keep on reminding themselves how much Jesus loves them.

Dear Jesus, thank You for dying on Your Cross for me. I will always love Your Cross. Whenever I do anything that is wrong, I will look at Your Cross. It will help me to be good again.

Source: Father W.D.Creede, C.Ss.R.