The Bible records that when Jesus was on the way to be crucified, the Roman soldiers forced a man called Simon from Cyrene to carry his cross: Matthew chapter 27:32 & Luke chapter 23:26. It also tells us that this Simon had sons called Alexander and Rufus. Mark chapter 15:21. Tradition states his sons Rufus and Alexander became missionaries; the inclusion of their names in the Gospel of Mark suggests they were part of the early Christian community in Rome. It has even been suggested that the Rufus mentioned by St. Paul in Romans 16:13 is the son of Simon of Cyrene. Cyrene was the capital city of the province of Cyrenaica, which was in the eastern part of present-day Libya in Africa.
He was a Jew and was most likely on pilgrimage in Jerusalem for the High Feast Day of Passover. The gospel text tells us that Simon was compelled to carry it. He did not choose to carry it. He was forced. There are no recorded words that Simon speaks to our Lord. There are also no words written, that our Lord speaks to Simon.
Prayer- Heavenly Father, whose most dear Son, as He walked the way of The Cross, accepted the service of Simon of Cyrene to carry his physical burden for him: grant us each the grace gladly to bear one another's burdens, for the love of him who said, "As you did it to the least of these my brethren, you did it to me," your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.