The Works of the Cross

Blessed Concepción Cabrera de Armida was chosen by the Lord as an instrument to communicate the Spirituality of the Cross and to establish the Works of the Cross. She gave a most decisive impulse to each of the Works' branches with her life and her writings. The Works of the Cross were brought to life in the Church to promote the sanctity of God's people in the following of Christ, Priest, and Victim.

Apostleship of the Cross

The first branch of the tree is the Apostleship of the Cross. It was founded on May 3, 1895, in Mexico by Venerable Ramón Ibarra González, then Bishop of Chilapa, Guerrero. It is open to all faithful Christians: laity, religious and priests, who seek to live their baptismal consecration according to the Spirituality of the Cross, praying and offering their daily works and trials, especially for priests and thus respond to the universal vocation to sanctity.
 

Sisters of the Cross of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Sisters of the Cross are a religious congregation of the contemplative life. They were founded on May 3, 1897, in Mexico City. The Sisters of the Cross dedicate their lives to perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and voluntarily offer themselves in favor of priests' sanctification. 
 

Covenant of Love with the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The third branch of the Works of the Cross, the Covenant of Love, specifically for laity, was founded on November 8, 1909. The members of the Covenant of Love are called to consecrate themselves to the Father in union with Christ, Priest, and Victim through the constant offering of their lives. Its members also strive to console the Heart of Christ through a life of intimacy with him that will allow them to know and share his most intimate feelings.  

Fraternity of Christ the Priest

The Fraternity of Christ the Priest, for bishops, priests, and deacons, was founded on January 19, 1912. The Fraternity of Christ the Priest brings them together so that under the Holy Spirit's motion, they live their faith experience in ecclesial communion with the Spirit of Christ, Priest and Victim, for their own sanctification and the sanctification of the priestly people.
 

Missionaries of the Holy Spirit

Venerable Felix Rougier founded the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit on December 25, 1914. They are the last branch of the tree and the axis that enlivens all the Works of the Cross.
The Missionaries of the Holy Spirit, priests, permanent deacons, and brothers live and share in a community the Spirituality of the Cross by their total consecration through the religious vows and their apostolic work.  
They live their priestly spirituality offering to the Father his Son, Priest, and Victim and offering themselves with Him as a host pleasing to God.
They make their own the mission of Jesus, who was sent to save us and to sanctify us through the gift of His Spirit. As apostles of that same Spirit, they are sent to promote holiness among the people of God, according to the Spirituality of the Cross. Priests take precedence in the apostolic action of the missionaries of the Holy Spirit.