SEPTEMBER 14
THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
In the Latin Roman Rite this feast is celebrated on September 14th each year to celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on which Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior, died. Historians record that the true cross was unearthed by the Empress Saint Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine the Great, in the year 326. With Constantine as emperor, his mother had the funds and the visa, so to speak, to conduct an extensive expedition for the true cross, for it was the sign of the cross in the sky that enabled her son to be victorious—“In hoc signo vinces.” Though she was nearly 80 years old, her mission was to uncover Christ’s cross so that all the world could give it the reverence and veneration it deserved. On arriving in Jerusalem, there was no visible sign of any evidence because the heathens had constructed pagan temples over anything Christian to show their disdain.
This was the signal to Helena where to look, and so she sought out where stones had been piled high, leading her to many discoveries, including the sepulchre where Jesus was buried, finding the tools of torture as well, after she had the pagan temples destroyed. In the process her expedition nearby uncovered three crosses with the nail holes still visible and, after more digging, discovered the crude rough iron nails that had pierced the hands and feet of our Savior, as well as the two thieves. Helena grappled with which of the three was the true cross and sought out the holy bishop Saint Macarius, who suggested to Helena that the three crosses be taken to a very influential lady who lay very ill in the city. His reasoning and faith was that God would reveal which was the true cross when it touched and healed the sick woman. Helena did just this as Macarius prayed for the miracle they sought. God answered their prayers when the third cross was placed near the woman after the first two had failed. Almost immediately, the woman regained full health. Helena was so overcome with joy and gratitude that she ordered a church to be built on the spot where she discovered the cross and placed the major portion of the cross in an elegant silver casing inside the church for protection, entrusting it to St. Macarius. Because this pinewood cross was shredding some, Helena took a healthy piece back with her to Rome, placing it in another church she had delegated to be built there, which was renamed the Church of Santa Croce in Rome, where it is still preserved today. Helena died peacefully in her son Constantine’s arms on August 18, 326.
Cyril of Jerusalem, Macarius’ successor, stated that pieces of the true cross were spreading throughout the world, which later confirmed what St. Paulinus of Nola wrote: though pieces of the sacred wood were slivered off the main cross almost daily and given to the devout, the cross seemed never to diminish in size. Today, these relics are indeed on every continent, and we have personally seen many times crosses that contain a sliver of the true cross. As a relic the sliver of the cross is often carried beneath a covered canopy in procession. When it is presented for exposition, it is customary to genuflect in veneration, and kissing the relic is a total indication of respect and veneration.
Homily by Pope St. Leo the Great
(8th on the Lord’s Passion)
Dearly beloved brethren, when we gaze upon Christ lifted up upon the Cross, the eyes of our mind see more than that which appeared before the wicked, unto whom it was said through Moses: “And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee, and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life.” (Deut. xxviii. 66.) They saw in the crucified Lord nothing but the work of their own wickedness, and “they feared greatly,” (Matth. xxvii. 54,) not with that faith which giveth earnest of life by justification, but with that whereby the evil conscience is tortured. But our understanding is enlightened by the Spirit of truth, and with pure and open hearts we see the glory of the Cross shining over heaven and earth, and discern by inward glance what the Lord meant when His Passion was nigh at hand, and He said: “Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things unto Me.”
O How wonderful is the power of the Cross! O how unutterable is the glory of the Passion, wherein standeth the Lord’s judgment-seat, and the judgment of this world, and the might of the Crucified! Lord! Thou hast drawn all things unto Thee! Thou didst spread out Thine Hands all the day unto an unbelieving and gainsaying people, (Isa. lxv. 2,) but the world hath felt and owned Thy Majesty! Lord! Thou hast drawn all things unto Thee! All the elements gave one wild cry of horror at the iniquity of the Jews—the lights of the firmament were darkened, day turned into night, earth quaked with strange tremblings, and all God’s work refused to serve the guilty. Lord! Thou hast drawn all things unto Thee! The veil of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; the Holy of Holies denied itself as a Sanctuary for the ministration of unworthy Priests, that the shadow might be changed for the substance, prophecy for realization, and the Law for the Gospel.
Lord! Thou hast drawn all things unto Thee! That which was veiled under types and shadows in the one Jewish Temple is hailed by the love of all peoples in full and open worship. There is now a higher order of Levites, a more honourable rank of elders, a Priesthood with a holier anointing. Thy Cross is a well of blessings for all, and a cause of thanksgiving for all. Thereby for them that believe in Thee, weakness is turned into strength, shame into glory, and death into life. The changing ordinance of divers carnal sacrifices is gone; the one oblation of Thy Body and Blood fulfilleth them all. For Thou art the Very Paschal Lamb, Which takest away the sins of the world, and art in Thyself all offerings finished. And even as Thou art the One Sacrifice Which taketh the place of all sacrifices, so may Thy kingdom be one kingdom established over all peoples.
