Feast of The Exaltation of The Holy Cross - September 14

Various ^

[NYer]

The feast of the Exaltation of the Cross is in honor of the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Observed on September 14, it is also known as 'Holy Cross Day'. The liturgy of this feast in the Syrian Orthodox Church recalls the tradition which narrates the story of Helen, mother of Emperor Constantine, who went to Jerusalem to look for the Cross. On her way to Jerusalem, she left one of her servants on a mountain. Once the cross was discovered, she ordered her men to light a fire on top of a nearby mountain. Having seen the fire, the servant staying on the next mountain lit another fire, and in this manner the news of the discovery of the Holy Cross reached the capital, Constantinople.
Syriac Orthodox Church

We bow in worship before your Cross, O Master, and we give praise to your Holy Resurrection.
Li saleebika ya Sayyidana nosjed, wa li quamatik almoqaddasal numajjid.
Ton Stavron sou proskinoomen, Dhespota, keh teen Agian sou Anastasin dhoxaxomen.
Melkite Greek Catholic Church

However, Helen had no way of determining which was the Cross of Christ. With the healing of a dying woman who touched one of the crosses, Patriarch Macarius of Jerusalem identified the True Cross of Christ. Saint Helen and her court venerated the Precious and Life-Giving Cross along with many others who came to see this great instrument of Redemption.

Please add your links to this thread!!

[NYer]

As many of you know, I normally attend the 11am mass on Sunday. Tomorrow, however, is our parish picnic and I will be working it for most of the day so I attended the 4:30 mass tonight, for the first time.

As I walked down the aisle, I was stunned to see a magnificent gold crucifix on a pedestal, next to the oversized, bigger than life, Risen Christ. It was placed on a white draped pedestal with a candle burning at its base. I instantly broke into tears of joy!! Could it be that the pastor had FINALLY read the GIRM?! Then I opened to the Readings and noticed Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.

In all fairness and tribute to Fr. Burke, he did a masterful job with this mass. The altar was decorated in a classical manner, the choir sang traditional songs of the cross, his sermon was totally focused on living our lives by the cross ... I actually felt like I was in a Catholic Church. An absolutely beautiful Catholic Mass service. (Tomorrow, I will have to pique his conscience and try to convince him to keep that magnificent crucifix up there next to the Tabernacle.

Please take a moment to add an appropriate prayer or hymn to this thread. God Bless you all!

[american colleen]

Thank God! Little things to some but everything to us.

A little sign that you should stay in your parish maybe? It's great that you are going to tell him how much you loved what he did.

Smiled all the way through that post because I know how overjoyed you must have been!

I've been going back and forth about attending the Tridentine tomorrow because of this feast.... I think you made up my mind that I will. Sadly, nothing out of the ordinary will take place at my home parish tomorrow.

[Land of the Irish]

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from Christ's side, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That I may praise Thee with Thy saints
and with Thy angels
Forever and ever
Amen

[ahadams2]

Now keep in mind I'm coming from a slightly different background:

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

-Isaac Watts

[NYer]

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.

Thank you ALL for your beautiful posts to this thread! Before tonight, I had never heard of this feast (or perhaps, I wasn't paying attention). The pastor explained that it is one of the most ancient feast days in the church calendar, dating back to the consecration of the Basilica of Constantinople. It wasn't until I began to research it online that I fully appreciated that statement. To find links to the Syriac, Melchite and Greek rites was truly fascinating.

I noticed too, in the history of this feast that ...

When the Essenes (the Dead Sea Scrolls people) received converts into their community, they baptized them and then signed them on their foreheads with a TAU, in token that they were part of the faithful remnant who mourned the sins of Israel, and that they would be spared in the day of God's wrath.

St. Francis (of Assisi) was very fond of the passage in the prophet Ezekiel (9:4) which refers to the faithful of God all being signed on the forehead with the letter 'tau'. Francis often signed his letters with this symbol.

Pope Innocent III used this image from the prophet Ezekiel for the theme of the opening homily of the Fourth Lateran Council (1215). The Tau became a symbol from the Council for spiritual renewal in the Church. It is thought that Francis was present at this council and used the Tau from that moment on.

I have one that I brought back from Assisi 18 years ago. Such beautiful symbolism in this feast!

[NYer]

Father gave a good sermon on the history of the cross, and carrying the cross in our lives. A beautiful day in San Diego today - and a beautiful church to be in.

Sounds like a gem of a church! Will take the virtual tour later.

Following up on Colleen's recommendation, I let our pastor know today just how much I appreciated the BEAUTIFUL mass he celebrated last night. He was most appreciative. His heart is in the right place but he often approaches holy or feast days as an opportunity to "create a mood" or "set the stage" (don't know how else to explain this). In any event, he opened up and told me that as he looked out at the congregation assembled for the masses he said (we have a retired priest who shares the mass schedule with him), he noticed quite a few people crying. "Yes!", I told him, "this liturgy brought me to tears as well". I then complimented him on the presentation of the crucifix that had been set up for the occasion (recall that our post VCII church has the Risen Christ) and wouldn't it look absolutely beautiful, juxtaposed next to the Tabernacle, on PERMANENT display. He smiled and rolled his eyes (generally not a good sign). Later, I approached two women EEM's who "have the pastor's ear". Turns out, they like the Risen Christ statue. Back to the drawing board. I am most consoled that the pastor noted the tears streaming down the faces of those who attended his masses. These were genuine tears of love for Christ and an appreciation for the more "mystical" aspects of today's liturgy, that was focused on the cross. God willing (and I will continue to pray for him), the pastor will 'make the connection.

[NYer]

Thanks for the link! Took the tour .... what a beautiful church. Clicked on their Feast Day link and found this.

List of Celebrated Feast Days

Feast of Saint Joseph		Sunday before March 19		()
Saint Anthony of Padua		Sunday before June 13		()
Sacred Heart		Third Sunday of June		()
Madonna Addolorata		Third Sunday of September		()
Our Lady of the Rosary		First Sunday of October		()
Madonna Del Lume		Third Sunday of October		()
Wedding Anniversary Mass		Last Sunday of October		()
Spaghetti Dinner		First Saturday of November		()
Madonna Del Paradiso		Second Sunday of November		()

Good to know that the Feast of the Spaghetti Dinner has now been added to the liturgical calendar. That should make the Italians proud .... or is it the Chinese? Lol.

[NYer]

Thanks for the link! Took the tour .... what a beautiful church. Clicked on their Feast Day link and found this.

List of Celebrated Feast Days

Feast of Saint Joseph		Sunday before March 19		()
Saint Anthony of Padua		Sunday before June 13		()
Sacred Heart		Third Sunday of June		()
Madonna Addolorata		Third Sunday of September		()
Our Lady of the Rosary		First Sunday of October		()
Madonna Del Lume		Third Sunday of October		()
Wedding Anniversary Mass		Last Sunday of October		()
Spaghetti Dinner		First Saturday of November		()
Madonna Del Paradiso		Second Sunday of November		()

Good to know that the Feast of the Spaghetti Dinner has now been added to the liturgical calendar. That should make the Italians proud .... or is it the Chinese? Lol.

[GirlShortstop]

Good to know that the Feast of the Spaghetti Dinner has now been added to the liturgical calendar.     

[Salvation]

LOL! on the sphaghetti dinner thing!

[Salvation]

BTTT on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, September 14, 2005!