“We Adore You, O Christ, and We Praise You”

Each year on September 14, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, honoring the Cross upon which Jesus Christ gave His life for the salvation of the world.

At first, it may seem strange to “exalt” the Cross. In the ancient world, crucifixion was a brutal and humiliating form of execution. The cross represented suffering, disgrace and death. Yet through Jesus Christ, its meaning was transformed. What had been an instrument of death became the instrument through which God revealed the extraordinary depth of His love for us.

Jesus did not promise His followers a life without difficulty. Instead, He said, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” The Cross therefore stands at the very heart of Christian discipleship. It reminds us not only of what Christ endured for us, but also of our own call to follow Him faithfully, even when that path involves sacrifice.

The feast also has deep historical roots. According to Christian tradition, St. Helena, the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, traveled to Jerusalem in the fourth century and discovered the Cross of Christ. A basilica was subsequently built over the sites associated with Christ's Crucifixion and Resurrection. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was dedicated in September 335, and the Cross was solemnly presented for the faithful to venerate.

Centuries later, after the relic of the True Cross had been captured during war, it was recovered and returned to Jerusalem. These events contributed to the celebration we now know as the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

But the significance of this feast extends far beyond the history of a sacred relic. The Church invites us to look upon the Cross and recognize the mystery at the center of our faith: God loved us so completely that He entered into human suffering and death in order to lead us to eternal life.

Why the Cross Matters Today

Every one of us carries crosses. They may come through illness, grief, disappointment, loneliness, family difficulties, financial worries or circumstances we never expected and would never have chosen.

Our faith does not tell us that suffering is good. It tells us something far more hopeful: suffering does not have the final word.

Christ transformed the Cross. Because of Him, even our most difficult experiences can become places where grace enters our lives. When we unite our struggles with Christ, we discover that we do not carry them alone.

The Cross also challenges us to love sacrificially. Christ's love was not merely spoken; it was given completely. Following Him means learning to love when love costs us something—to forgive, to be patient, to serve, to remain faithful and to place the needs of another before our own.

Reflection

We see crosses everywhere: above our altars, in our homes, around our necks and throughout our churches. Because the image is so familiar, it can become easy to overlook what it means. The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross asks us to look again.

When we make the Sign of the Cross, we proclaim in a simple gesture the central mystery of our faith. Christ died. Christ conquered death. And through His Cross, we have been given the promise of eternal life.

Perhaps today we can ask ourselves: What cross am I carrying that I need to place more completely into Christ's hands? And how might God be using that cross to draw me closer to Him?

The Cross reminds us that no darkness is beyond God's reach, no suffering is without His presence, and no death is stronger than His love.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, through Your Holy Cross You revealed the depth of Your love and opened for us the way to eternal life. Help us to carry our own crosseswith faith, courage and trust.

When we are burdened, remind us that You walk beside us. When we are afraid, help us place our confidence in You. Teach us to love as You loved, to forgive as You forgave, and to give ourselves generously in service to one another.

May we never look upon the Cross without remembering the love that transformed suffering into hope and death into life.

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world. Amen. Amen.

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is September 14.