School of the Cross

At the age of 37, St. Comboni was already feeing exhausted, his labors draining his physical energy but he was maturing in spirit: "I can already see and understand that the Cross is such a friend to me, and is always so close to me, I have chosen her for some time now as my inseparable and eternal Spouse."

In the cross, St. Comboni discovered how to read his life. Also the ills of his time, the difficulties in his missionary work... the depth of suffering he experienced in Africa with it's slavery, famine conditions, sicknesses and sin. The instrument of death of Jesus has become the means and the sign of Redemption.

Union with this spouse became concrete in acceptance of crosses, he even asked for them, giving thanks when he received them. St. Comboni educates us all in the school of the Cross, what he called the only true knowledge, "basis of a solid foundation for freedom and liberation in Africa."