Exaultation of the Holy Cross: September 14

"We adore Thee O Christ and we bless Thee, for by Thy Holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world."
"In hoc signo vinces" Under this sign will you conquer.

The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross especially commemorates three historical events, including the epochal victory of Constantine in the Battle of the Milvan Bridge in the year 312, and most especially the founding of the True Cross by St. Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great and the subsequent building of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on the sight of Our blessed Lord's crucifixion. On this day, we focus on the meaning of the Cross, for upon the Cross was built Christendom, upon the Cross our salvation rests and mankind finds hope.

Constantine's victory through the Cross marked the beginning of the end for the widespread practice of idolatry in the West and the eventual rising of the standard of the Cross in Rome and Byzantium. During the pivotal Battle of the Milvian Bridge, at about noon, Emperor Constantine was said to have seen a vision of the Cross, brilliant, appearing in the sky above the sun. with a promise from Heaven that he would conquer under the banner of Christ. Constantine, along with his host of troops who also saw the vision, were struck by awe and amazement at this miracle in the sky. That night, as he pondered this sign, Constantine received Heaven's instruction to command his forces to mark on their shields the sign of Christ's Cross. After Constantine's great victory, the great Roman persecution of Christians ceased, and the Church was allowed to flourish, allowing the civilizing influence of Christianity to preserve civilization from the hordes of barbarians who would soon overrun Rome, and would spawn great monasteries and missions by which the sweet yoke of Christ would be spread throughout Europe and throughout the world.

The Feast more particularly commemorates the finding of the True Cross by St. Helena, Constantine's mother, who went to Jerusalem in search of this most holy relic. It is said that the enemies of the Cross of Christ had erected a shrine to the goddess Venus on the site of the Crucifixion. Helena was divinely directed to come to this spot, to direct her forces to cast down the shrine and excavate, finding three crosses along with the tablet directed by Pilate to be hung upon the Cross: "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." The bishop of Jerusalem identified which of the three was the true Cross. He directed the three crosses to be brought to a woman who had a lengthy illness and was at the point of death. Two of the crosses were brought to her, with no effect. When the true Cross upon which our Savior hung was brought to her, she was instantly cured of her sickness. Helena had a magnificent church built over the place where the Lord was crucified and buried.

What does the Cross mean to us today? As a culture, we have been exposed to the Cross as a symbol for 2,000 years now, and many of us have encountered the Cross since our infancy. We must never take the Cross for granted, because by the Holy Cross alone are we healed. The Cross is our salvation, and Jesus bids us to carry it daily to follow Him. Indeed He tells us "If anyone wants to follow Me, let him renounce himself, take up his cross and follow me. Let him follow me.".

We are called to embrace the cross - folly to the world, but the very power of God! We embrace it and go confidently into battle, secure in the prospects of our eventual victory against the devil, the flesh and the world! The coat of arms and the badge of heraldry we all bear as princes and princesses in Christ's Kingdom is none other than the Cross. That symbol of humiliation, horror and pain becomes the bright beacon of hope and light, that weapon that will vanquish all the forces of heaven and hell and lead us to God's Kingdom!

We cannot exaggerate the importance of the Cross. As St. Paul says, the only thing we can glory about is the Cross of Christ! How many there are who know no other pleasure than those fleeting pleasures and empty promises of the devil, the flesh and the world. We on the other hand are offered the peace of Christ, which the world cannot give. Jesus hands out to us an imperishable crown of glory, joy, and bliss and happiness forever in heaven for a few moments labor here on earth.

We are called to be holy and set apart and a beacon to this world. We are the children of the Light, heirs to the heavenly throne. Let us look to the heavenly prize as we unite under the Cross of Jesus Christ, united with Our Lady of Sorrows. It is through the Cross, strengthened by Our Lady, our Queen and the General of Christ's Army. The Cross is the weapon by which she will crush the serpent's head. Let us follow her into battle through the valley of tears to the Mount of Calvary, so that by sharing in the Cross, we will one day share in the exaltation of the Cross in Heaven with Jesus and Mary forever.