The Exaltation Of The Holy Cross

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is commemorated by the Holy Catholic Church on September 14^th and is a reminder of the importance of the core symbol of our faith as well as the sacrifice that Our Lord made upon the Holy Cross for our salvation. We honor that Cross on which Christ won for us our redemption.

The Cross is the universal symbol of Christianity, and is a sign of victory over something that once was synonymous with a method of brutal torture. The Cross represents hope, salvation, freedom, and unconditional love. Our Lord loved us all so much, He chose to suffer a violent death on the Cross to save us all from the shackles of sin.

The Holy Cross is also an identifier for Christians and part of the mission that Jesus imparted upon us to take up our own cross and follow Him. Those crosses in our own respective lives could include: family illness, substance abuse, financial burdens, emotional distress, physical disability, and a host of other potential issues. We are called to bring those troubles with us on our own Way of the Cross.

We, as Catholics, are reminded frequently to bring our troubles, worries, fears, anxieties, and concerns to the Cross. This is a powerful concept for many of us, as believers, to comprehend. We are taught to surrender our mind, body, soul, and will to God. This type of surrender can be a source of relief but also a source of resistance for the human emotions that tend to hold on to control.

This year, the feast day falls on a Thursday, and in my reflection on writing this piece, I was brought immediately to the Institution of the Holy Eucharist. This event is commemorated, of course on Holy Thursday in the Liturgy, and also as the Fifth Luminous Mystery of the Holy Rosary. It is still so incredibly awesome for me to even comprehend that Jesus loved us all so much that He gave us the Holy Eucharist.

Jesus desired an intimate relationship with all of us and that is formed out of the gift of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Jesus gave up His life for us, so that we may be saved from the consequences of sin and death; that is such a profoundly powerful concept to comprehend.

The Exaltation of The Holy Cross also follows the day of remembrance we hold in the United States for the September 11^th terror attacks. The horrors of that day, the pain that remains in our memories, and the range of emotions we all collectively went through on that terrible day always returns at this time of the year. We can take all of that pain, fear, anger, frustration, and emotional anguish to the Cross. We can lay all of those emotions at the foot of the Cross, Jesus wants us to let it all go, so that we may focus on loving and serving others.

The focus on loving and serving others in need was brought to the forefront over the past few weeks through the national disasters known as Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. The accounts of so many instances where people responded with love, generosity, charity, and kindness towards those in need reminds us all of the goodness in our society.

The Cross is where we find the strength and the courage to rise to meet these challenges in our daily lives. The Cross unites us all with our shared burdens, our shared sorrows in this life. The Cross unites us to Jesus, Our Savior, who has redeemed the world.

This feast also has an historical significance as it commemorates when St. Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine, is credited with discovering the original Cross on which Jesus died for our salvation. The Holy Cross had been taken by the Persians, and upon the recovery of this most holy relic by St. Helena, Emperor Constantine dedicated a basilica on the site of Calvary.

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross transitions beyond the historical context to the spiritual aspect when we pray before the Cross either at Church or at home. The prayers of deep gratitude we offer Our Lord for His sacrifice are so profound when they are offered in front of the Cross.

The Novena prayer for The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a wonderful way to offer Jesus our praise:

Jesus, Who because of Your burning love for us willed to be crucified and to shed Your Most Precious Blood for the redemption and salvation of our souls, look down upon us and grant the petition we ask for ( mention here)

We trust completely in Your Mercy.
Cleanse us from sin by Your Grace,
sanctify our work,
give us and all those who are dear to us our daily bread, lighten the burden of our sufferings,
bless our families,
and grant to the nations, so sorely afflicted,
Your Peace, which is the only true peace, so that by obeying Your Commandments we may come at last to the glory of Heaven. Amen.

The Holy Cross reminds us of what it means to be a follower of Jesus, and how we are all called to rise from beneath our sins and our limitations, to accept our crosses, and to follow Jesus in the plan that God has for our life.  May the Lord Jesus, Blessed Redeemer, Savior of the World, bless you and your families always.

(credit EWTN for the Novena prayer and historical context)