Feast of the Exaltation of the Glorious Cross
(14 September)
A brief history of the Holy Cross:
The Holy Cross was discovered through Empress Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine the Great. Her son encouraged her and sent about three thousand soldiers with her. In Jerusalem she met Saint Macarius, bishop of Jerusalem, and told him what she wished to do. According to tradition, after much searching, an elderly Jewish man showed her the place. She found three crosses and the inscription reading “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”. She was able to identify Christ’s cross: the first and second were placed on a dead man, who did not rise; finally the third was placed on him, and he rose at once. Then she took the Holy Cross, wrapped it in costly silk and placed it in a silver chest in Jerusalem, amid many hymns and praises. She had the Church of the Resurrection (the Holy Sepulchre) built over the cave of the Cross and placed it there; the cave of the Cross still exists in the church. The church was dedicated with great solemnity in 335.
The importance of the Cross in our lives:
The Feast of the Cross is a blessed feast. It is a source of grace and blessing, a source of strength and victory. On it the Lord Christ was crucified, and by it he conquered death.
When we make the sign of the cross we confess the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; we confess the oneness of God, one God; and we confess the incarnation of the Son, the Word, in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
When the prophet Moses stretched out his hands in the shape of a cross, he won the victory; when he lifted up the bronze serpent, the people were saved; and when he struck the rock with his staff (it is said he struck it in the shape of a cross), water gushed out. Our holy Fathers worked miracles, won victories and overcame evil through the sign of the holy Cross. There is not and never will be any power equal to the power of the Cross. So we should keep a cross in our homes to protect our families from every evil power.
Prayer:
O glorious Cross, through you we draw strength, and with you we live in peace and calm. You are our identity and our pride. Through you we live and triumph over evil and sin.
My God, how great is your mercy, and your love has no end! Grant us and teach us to carry joyfully with you the cross you carried and on which you were crucified for us. Thank you, O Redeemer, for all the graces you have given us.
Thank you, Jesus, for always being with us.
Thank you, my God, for being present every second to rescue us and lift us up when we stumble.
Master of the universe and King of kings, accept our hearts as your dwelling place, so that they may always beat with love and faith.
Glory to you, O Christ, who water our hearts with your peace and compassion and fill our spirits with your shining light.
We bow before you, O glorious Cross, and draw from you the strength to overcome every evil that fights against us and tries to lead us away from you. Amen.
The Sawt el Rab team
