September 14
FEAST OF 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.
 |
| The finding of the True Cross, Agnolo Gaddi, Florence, 1380 |
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 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 pine wood
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.
Monday in the
Sixteenth Week After Pentecost - Seventh Day within the Octave of the Nativity
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Double
Major/Red Vestments – Missa “Nos autem"
INTROIT: Galatians 6: 14
But it behooves us
to glory in the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ: in Whom is our salvation, life,
and resurrection; by Whom we are saved and delivered, alleluia, alleluia.
Psalm – 66: 2
May God have mercy
on us, and bless us; may He cause the light of His countenance to shine upon
us, and may He have mercy on us. v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and
to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world
without end. Amen. But it behooves us…
Nos autem gloriári
opórtet in Cruce Dómnni nostri Jesu Christi: in quo est salus, vita, et
resurréctio nostra: per quem salváti, et liberáti sumus, allelúja, allelúja.
Psalm – 66: 2
Deus misereátur
nostri, et benedícat nobis: illúminet vultum suum super nos, et misereátur
nostri. V. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio
et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Nos autem …
COLLECT
O God, Who dost
gladden us this day by the annual solemnity of the exaltation of the Holy
Cross, grant, we beseech Thee, that, as we have known its mystery on earth, we
may deserve in heaven the reward which it had purchased. Through the same Jesus
Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, God, For ever and ever.
EPISTLE: Philippians 2: 5-11
Lesson from
the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Philippians.
Brethren let this
mind be in you which was also in Jesus Christ: Who, being in the form of God,
thought it not robbery to be equal with God but emptied Himself, taking the
form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a
man. He humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death, even to the death
of the cross. For which cause God also hath exalted Him, and hath given Him a
Name which is above all names:
(kneel) that in the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that
are in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth and that every tongue should
confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.
GRADUAL: Philippians
2: 8, 9
Christ became
obedient for us unto death: even the death of the cross.
V. For which cause also God
hath exalted Him and hath given Him a name which is above all names.
ALLELUIA
Alleluia, alleluia.
V. Sweet the wood, sweet the nails, sweet the load that hangs thereon: to bear
up the King and Lord of Heaven nought was worthy save thou, O holy cross.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL: John 12:
31-36
The continuation
of the holy Gospel according to St. John
At that time: Jesus
said to the multitude of the Jews,
“Now is the judgment
of the 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 to Myself.”
(Now
this He said, signifying what death He should die.) The multitude answered Him, “We have heard out of the law, that
Christ abideth forever: and how sayest Thou, The Son of man must be lifted up?
Who is the Son of man?” Jesus therefore said to them,
“Yet a little while,
the light is among you. Walk whilst you have the light, that the darkness
overtake you not. And he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
Whilst you have the light, believe in the light; that you may be the children
of light.”
OFFERTORY
Through the sign of the holy cross, protect Thy people, O Lord, from
the snares of all enemies, that we may pay Thee a pleasing service, and our
sacrifice be acceptable, alleluia.
SECRET
Being about to be fed with the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord,
through Whom the banner of the cross was sanctified, we beseech Thee O Lord,
our God, that, as we have had the grace to adore it, so we may forever enjoy
the effect of its salutary glory. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God.
PREFACE – Preface
of the Holy Cross
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should
at all times and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father
almighty, everlasting God Who didst establish the salvation of mankind on the
tree of the Cross that whence death came, thence also life might rise again,
and that he, who overcame by the tree, by the tree also might be overcome:
Through Christ our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy majesty, the
Dóminations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The heavens and the heavenly
hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to
celebrate it. Together with these we entreat Thee, that Thou mayest bid our
voices also to be admitted while we say with lowly praise:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra
gloria Tua. Hosanna in excelsis. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna
in excelsis.
COMMUNION: Ps. 78: 2, 11
Through the sign of the cross deliver us from our enemies, O our God.
POSTCOMMUNION
Assist us mercifully, O Lord our God:
that we whom thou dost suffer to rejoice in honoring the Holy Cross, may
be defended by the perpetual succour of the same. Through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who
liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God,
world without end.
HYMN
O Faithful
Cross! thou noblest of all trees.
No forest yields
thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.
Sweet is the
Wood, that hath nails so sweet,
and bears so
sweet a weight!
O sing, my
tongue, the victory of the glorious
combat! Tell how
was won the noble triumph
on the trophy of
the Cross, and how
the world's
Redeemer, when immolated,
conquered.
O Faithful
Cross! thou noblest of all trees.
No forest yields
thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.
Sweet is the
Wood, that hath nails so sweet,
and bears so
sweet a weight!
Our Creator
compassionated his creature,
our First
Parent, when being deceived,
he be came a
victim of death by eating
the fatal fruit:
and even then he chose
the Tree,
whereby to make good the
evils brought on
us by that other tree.
O Faithful Cross!
thou noblest of all trees.
No forest yields
thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.
Sweet is the
Wood, that hath nails so sweet,
and bears so
sweet a weight!
This was the
plan designed for our salvation,
that sacrifice
divine should foil the artifice
of Satan, the
arch- seducer; and turn the
very instrument,
wherewith the enemy
had wounded us,
into our remedy.
O Faithful
Cross! thou noblest of all trees.
No forest yields
thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.
Sweet is the
Wood, that hath nails so sweet,
and bears so
sweet a weight!
When, therefore,
the fullness of God's time
had come, the
Son, by whom the world
was made, was
sent from heaven; and
having clothed
himself with our flesh,
in the Virgin's
womb, he came among us.
O Faithful
Cross! thou noblest of all trees.
No forest yields
thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.
Sweet is the
Wood, that hath nails so sweet,
and bears so
sweet a weight!
He lies a
weeping Babe in a little crib.
His Virgin
Mother swathes his limbs with clothes.
The hands and
feet of God are tied with bands!
O Faithful
Cross! thou noblest of all trees.
No forest yields
thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.
Sweet is the
Wood, that hath nails so sweet,
and bears so
sweet a weight!
Thirty years he
lived on earth, and his mortal life
was nigh its
end. He, our Redeemer, willingly
gave himself up
to his Passion; He, the
Lamb of
Sacrifice, was raised upon the Cross.
O Faithful
Cross! thou noblest of all trees.
No forest yields
thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.
Sweet is the
Wood, that hath nails so sweet,
and bears so
sweet a weight!
His drink is
gall; his strength is gone; his tender
flesh is pierced
with thorns, and nails, and spear;
and from it
flows a stream of water and blood,
wherewith the
earth and sea, the stars and
world, are
washed.
O Faithful
Cross! thou noblest of all trees.
No forest yields
thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.
Sweet is the
Wood, that hath nails so sweet,
and bears so
sweet a weight!
Bow down thy
branches, lofty Tree!
unstring thy
sinews, soften thine inborn
hardness, and
gently welcome the body
of our Almighty
King!
O Faithful
Cross! thou noblest of all trees.
No forest yields
thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.
Sweet is the
Wood, that hath nails so sweet,
and bears so
sweet a weight!
Thou alone wast
found worthy to bear the Victim
of the world!
Thou wast the Ark that led this ship-
wrecked world
into the haven of salvation!
The sacred Blood
that flowed from the
Lamb covered and
anointed thee.
O Faithful
Cross! thou noblest of all trees.
No forest yields
thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.
Sweet is the
Wood, that hath nails so sweet,
and bears so
sweet a weight!
To the Blessed
Trinity be glory
everlasting!
To the Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost,
be equal praise!
May heaven and earth
praise the Name
of the Triune God! Amen.
O Faithful
Cross! thou noblest of all trees.
No forest yields
thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.
Sweet is the
Wood, that hath nails so sweet,
and bears so
sweet a weight!
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