This day we are celebrating the Triumph , exaltation or raising up of the Holy Cross .
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a triumphant day. We are exalting it. The definition of exalt is to praise, or extol. So, on this day, we are praising the wood of the cross, the exact wood that our Savior hung on Good Friday. So yes, it brings sad thoughts , but we are not in a day of mourning , but a day of gladness, a day of praise, and day of gloriously recognizing the Cross.
We are celebrating the feast of the Cross which drove away darkness and brought in the Light. As we keep this feast, we are lifted up with the crucified Christ, leaving behind us earth and sin so that we may gain the things above. So great and outstanding a possession is the cross that he who wins it has won a treasure.
The Cross is praiseworthy because it is both the sign God’s suffering and the trophy of His Victory. It stands for His suffering because on it He freely suffered unto death. But it is also His trophy because it was the means by which the evil was wounded and death conquered; the barred gated of hell were smashed, and the Cross became the one common salvation of the whole world , became our daily weapon against evil and darkness .
It is our duty and salvation to accept our own crosses, and do it gloriously. Whatever God gives us is our cross. They may be light day, but heavy the next.
Let us pray that we may accept these, lovingly, and do as Jesus did. So, to help us in this endeavor to accept our own crosses, and glorify them, as the True Holy Cross is glorified on this day, we pray:
God our Father,
in obedience to You
Your only Son accepted death on the Cross
for the salvation of mankind.
We acknowledge the mystery of the Cross on earth.
May we receive the gift of Redemption in Heaven.
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. Because by Your Holy Cross You have
redeemed the world.Amen
