Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross
What does the Exaltation of the Holy Cross mean?
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross honors Christ’s Cross, an instrument made sacred by the Lord’s offering of Himself upon it for our salvation. This feast day is celebrated on September 14th.
When we honor, or exalt, the Cross, Christians are primarily acknowledging Christ Himself (2nd Council of Nicaea).
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states,
"The Council of Trent emphasizes the unique character of Christ's sacrifice as "the source of eternal salvation" and teaches that "his most holy Passion on the wood of the cross merited justification for us." And the Church venerates his cross as she sings: "Hail, O Cross, our only hope" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 617).
The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1: 18
Why do we celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross?
As well as celebrating the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross commemorates two historical events.
The first is the discovery in 320 AD of the True Cross, of Calvary and of the tomb of Christ by Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, which the Romans had buried under a Temple to Venus.
The second is the dedication of a church on the site in 335 AD. Today this church, in continuous existence since then, is known as the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher, and houses Calvary, the Tomb of Jesus and the cistern in which Saint Helena found the instruments of the Passion, including the Cross.
“Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.”
– Saint Rose of Lima
What does Jesus say about the Cross?
Prior to His Crucifixion, Our Lord spoke of His death on the Cross several times to His disciples, first in allusions, and then directly.
“He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:37-38
“If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16;24
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” Matthew 20:18–19
"You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of man will be delivered up to be crucified.” Matthew 26:2
What did Jesus say on the cross before he died?
Known as the Seven Last Words, these are the phrases that Our Lord spoke according to the Gospel accounts of His crucifixion.
- Luke 23:34: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
- Luke 23:43: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
- John 19:26–27: (To the Blessed Virgin) “Woman, behold, your son!” (To St. John) “Behold, your mother!”
- Matthew 27:46 (and Mark 15:34): “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
- John 19:28: “I thirst.”
- John 19:30: “It is finished.”
- Luke 23:46: “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!”
What are the 14 Stations of the Cross?
- Jesus is condemned to death
- The cross is laid upon Jesus
- Jesus falls for the first time
- Jesus meets His mother
- Simon of Cyrene is made to bear the cross
- Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
- Jesus falls the second time
- Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
- Jesus falls the third time.
- Jesus is stripped of His garments.
- Jesus is nailed to the cross.
- Jesus dies on the cross
- The body of Jesus is taken down from the cross.
- Jesus is laid in the tomb.
Pope Francis spoke about the Holy Cross in 2016.
"Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Dear young people, as you return to the regular rhythms of life after the summer holidays, strengthen your dialogue with God as well, spreading his light and his peace."
The Holy Father continued, addressing those who were ill or suffering. "Find comfort in the Cross of the Lord Jesus, who continues His work of redemption in the life of every man."
To newlyweds, he said, "Make the effort to maintain a constant relationship with Christ crucified, that your love might be the more true, fruitful and lasting."
What is the spiritual meaning of the Cross?
The Cross represents the truth that Jesus sacrificed Himself for the sins of the world. Sadly, many people reject Jesus and His Cross. Regarding this, Saint Paul says,
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart.”
Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
What is Saint Helena known for?
Saint Helena was the wife of the Emperor Constantius and mother of the Emperor Constantine. Sometime after her son’s reign began, she converted and sought to find the place where the Lord died and was buried. Going to Jerusalem she obtained the assistance of the Bishop of Jerusalem, Saint Macarius, who informed her of the local tradition that the Temple of Venus sat on the spot. Having it torn down, she found underneath the places of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus, as well as the instruments of His Passion.
Where is the cross of Jesus kept?
While significant pieces of the Cross are kept in Rome at the Church of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, over the centuries a great many fragments have also been distributed as holy relics, both to churches and to individuals.
