Three Crosses

Mihi autem absit gloria, nisi in cruce Domini nostri Jesu Christi... In cruce Christi gloriatio est, in cruce dextri latronis, consolatio; in cruce sinistri latronis, confusio; in cruce Christi, poena sine culpa, et post poena glorificatio; in cruce dextri latroni, poena pro culpa, et post poenam remissio; in cruce sinistri latronis, poena pro culpa, et post poenam damnatio. Dicunt homines, quando peonam sustinet; Si meruissimus non erubesceremus; nunc autem injuste pati et sine culpa ignominiosum nobis est. Oculi qui non vident, imo si pro culpa pateris erubescere; si sine culpa pateris, gloriare. Latro magis vis esse quam Christus; et forte sinister blasphemator, non confessor. Tu enim pro culpa pateris, et culpam non agnoscis, nec judicem veneraris. Si saltem dexter fuisses latro, culpam humiliter agnosceres, poenam patienter sustineres, veniam devote implorares, nec pro poena praesumeres, nec pro culpas desperares, sicut quidam qui de sua sustinentia gloriantur, de poena murmurant, de culpa desperant. Hugo De Sancte Victore, Miscellanea, Liber I, Tit L, De Tribus Crucibus Source: Migne PL 177.499c-d

May glory not be mine, unless in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ...1 In the cross of Christ there is glory, in the cross of the thief on the right, consolation, in the cross of the thief on the left, confusion. In the cross of Christ there is punishment without fault and after punishment glorification, in the cross of the thief on the right, there is punishment for fault and after punishment forgiveness, on the cross of the thief on the left, there is punishment for fault and after punishment damnation. Men when they undergo punishment, say, 'If we have merited it, we shall not be ashamed.' So now to suffer unjustly and without fault is disgraceful for us. Their eyes do not see that if it is for fault you suffer you should blush, if it is without fault, glory. You wish to be a thief more than Christ, and perhaps the left one, the blasphemer, not the confessor. You shall suffer for fault and not know the fault, nor adore the judge. But if you were the thief on the right, you would humbly know fault and patiently undergo punishment, and devotedly implore forgiveness, not being presumptuous in punishment, nor despairing in fault, as certain men do who glory in their own endurance, murmuring against punishment and despairing concerning fault. Hugh Of Saint Victor, Miscellanea, Book 1, Chapter 50, On The Three Crosses 1 Galat 6.14