Today is the day that we honor the Holy Cross by which Christ redeemed the world. Chosroes, king of Persia, carried away the True Cross to Persia: but Heraclius, Emperor of the East, defeated Chosroes, and himself carried the Holy Cross to the Basilica on Calvary A.D. 629. --The Roman Missal, 1962
Dear Brothers and Sisters, we are invited to look upon the Cross. It is the “privileged place” where the love of God is revealed and shown to us.… On the Cross human misery and divine mercy meet. The adoration of this unlimited mercy is for man the only way to open himself to the mystery which the Cross reveals.
The Cross is planted in the earth and would seem to extend its roots in human malice, but it reaches up, pointing as it were to the heavens, pointing to the goodness of God. By means of the Cross of Christ, the Evil One has been defeated, death is overcome, life is given to us, hope is restored, light is imparted. O Crux, ave spes unica! …
“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15), says Jesus. What do we see then when we bring our eyes to bear on the cross where Jesus was nailed (cf. John 19:37)? We contemplate the sign of God’s infinite love for humanity.
O Crux, ave spes unica! Saint Paul speaks of the same theme in the letter to the Ephesians…. Not only did Christ Jesus become man, in everything similar to human beings, but He took on the condition of a servant and humbled Himself even more by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (cf. Philippians 2:6-8).
Yes, “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son” (John 3:16). We admire — overwhelmed and gratified — the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge (cf. Ephesians 3:18-19)! O Crux, ave spes unica! …
Through the mystery of your Cross and your Resurrection, save us O Lord! Amen
— Pope John Paul II -- Excerpts from homily September 14, 2003
Today we celebrated the Feast Day at Mass, and at the end of Mass we were invited to venerate a True Relic of the Cross. The relic was placed in a tiny monstrance, and we knelt at the rail as we do to receive the Eucharist. The priest brought the relic to our lips so that we could kiss it. It was extremely moving to think that this was a piece of the cross upon which Jesus was crucified. In honoring and venerating the cross, we honor and venerate Our Lord.
We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee, for by thy Cross thou hast redeemed the world. Amen
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