The Savior himself spoke of the cross on various occasions and in varying senses. When he foretold his Passion and his death, he had before his eyes in the literal sense the shameful wood of the cross-upon which he was to end his life. But when he said: “whoever does not take up his cross and follow me, is not worth of me,” or ” if anyone wishes to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me,” then is the cross the symbol (Sinnbild) of all that is difficult and oppressive and so against human nature that taking it upon oneself is like a journey to death. And the disciple of Jesus is to take up this burden daily. (The Science of the Cross – St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross)
a solitary bird 