Feast of The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

In 335 AD, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (also called the Church of the Resurrection) in Jerusalem was dedicated. Tradition tells us that Helena, in the company of St. Macarius, bishop of Jerusalem, found three crosses buried beneath a pagan temple. After unearthing the crosses, she held each one up to a sick woman. Upon being touched by the third cross, the woman was miraculously cured, and it was determined that this was the one on which Jesus had died.

In 614 AD, the Persian King, Chosroes II, waged war on the Romans. After conquering Jerusalem, he confiscated many treasures, among which was the Cross of Jesus.

On today's feast we also commemorate the dedication in 335 AD of a shrine built on the site of the discovery of the Cross. Destroyed by the Persians in 614, it was replaced by the Crusaders with the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in 1149.

Today, the cruelty of the Cross is not what is exalted, but the Love that God manifested to humanity by accepting death on the Cross: “Who, though in the form of God, emptied himself, taking the form of a slave. This is the glory of the Cross of Jesus!” (Pope Francis).

Note: it is a tradition in Medjugorje that The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is traditionally observed on the first Sunday after the Feast of the Nativity of Mary, and for many years Mass has been held at the Cross Mountain site to honor the Holy Cross. In recent years, the parish has scheduled a 11:00 a.m. Holy Mass on Cross Mountain on this date, the only day of the year when Mass is celebrated there.