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Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Exaltation of the Holy Cross

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The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, celebrated on September 14th, commemorates the discovery and veneration of the True Cross by St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, in the 4th century. According to tradition, St. Helena found the cross on which Jesus was crucified during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. This discovery was a momentous event, as it confirmed the historicity of Christ’s Passion and marked the triumph of the Christian faith over paganism.

In the year 628, Emperor Heraclius recovered the True Cross from the Persians, who had captured it. The Cross was triumphantly returned to Jerusalem, symbolizing the victory of Christ’s sacrifice and the redemption of humanity. The feast celebrates the Cross not as an instrument of torture but as a symbol of victory, redemption, and divine love.

Practical Lessons:

  • Lesson 1: Embrace Your Daily Crosses with Faith: The Cross symbolizes enduring and overcoming challenges. In our daily lives, we can apply this by accepting and facing our personal difficulties—whether they are work-related, family issues, or health problems—with faith and perseverance. Use these moments as opportunities for spiritual growth and trust that God supports you through these trials.
  • Lesson 2: Find Meaning in Sacrifices: Just as Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross brought about redemption, our own sacrifices and efforts can have meaningful impacts. In everyday life, this means making small but significant sacrifices, such as giving time to help others, practicing patience, or making efforts to improve our relationships. Recognize these actions as part of your contribution to a greater good.

Prayer for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross:

O God, who willed that Your Son should undergo the Cross to redeem the human race, grant that we, who celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, may, through the power of the Cross, be brought to the glory of the resurrection. Help us to carry our daily crosses with faith and hope, knowing that through sacrifice and love, we share in the victory of Christ. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Other Saints We Remember Today

  • St. Maternus (1st Century), Bishop
  • St. Notburga (1313), Virgin, Patroness of peasants, servants, and the poor

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Comments

3 responses to “Exaltation of the Holy Cross”

  1. scott122 Avatar
    scott122

    “In the fourth century in the Isles of Britain, Constantine the Great was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.”

    You have Constantine mixed up with Charlemagne. According to Wikipedia, Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus, commonly known as Constantine I, or Constantine the Great, was Roman Emperor from 306, and the undisputed holder of that office from 324 to his death. Best known for being the first Christian Roman Emperor.

    Also according to Wikipedia, Charlemagne (747 – 28 January 814) was King of the Franks from 768 to his death. During his reign he conquered Italy and was crowned Imperator Augustus by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800 as a rival of the Byzantine Emperor in Constantinople. Through his foreign conquests and internal reforms, Charlemagne helped define both Western Europe and the Middle Ages. He is numbered as Charles I in the regnal lists of France, Germany, and the Holy Roman Empire.

    Constantine had nothing to do with the Holy Roman Empire – that was Charlemagne. And none of this took place in Britain.

  2. mkochan Avatar
    mkochan

    Wrong. Constantine was campaigning (warring) in Britian when his father died and he was proclaimed emperor. Then he went to Rome to secure his rulership by defeating a rival emperor.

  3. Today « God’s Canvas

    […] has a special meaning to me. Today is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. Today we celebrate Our Lord’s Cross; because of Christ’s suffering and death on the […]

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