The Seven Words Spoken By Christ on The Cross

Written by St. Robert Cardinal Bellarmine during his final years of retirement, The Seven Words is a profound meditation on Christ's last utterances from the Cross, distilled from a lifetime of scriptural study and theological wisdom. Cardinal Bellarmine composed this work not as an academic exercise, but as a personal retreat manual intended to help souls breathe deeper piety and prepare their hearts for eternity. He presents Christ's seven brief yet weighty sentences as the perfect summary of His entire earthly ministry, revealing how each word fulfills ancient prophecy, accomplishes human redemption, and unveils the divine attributes of wisdom, patience, love, and obedience. Rooted in the living tradition of the early Church, the Cardinal demonstrates how the Cross which stands not as a scene of despair, but as the throne from which Christ conquers sin and draws humanity into the  throne of eternal life.
Structured for deep personal reflection, the volume divides Christ's final words into two parts, carefully unfolding the literal meaning before guiding the reader through successive "fruits" to be spiritually harvested from each phrase. Through this method, Cardinal Bellarmine transforms the Passion from a distant historical event into a living encounter, inviting the faithful to draw strength from Christ's trust in the Father, His mercy toward the repentant, His triumph over suffering, and His holy surrender to the Holy Spirit. Intended for both clergy and laypersons, this enduring work remains a powerful instrument of spiritual renewal, leading all who meditate upon it into the very to heart of the Savior and offering a quiet steady path to holy perseverance, interior peace, and final union with God.    

256 pages.

Author: St. Robert Cardinal Bellarmine

Year: 1884