The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Happy Feast of The Exaltation of the Holy Cross.  The cross once was a symbol of death. It was a form of punishment - the most shameful and painful way to die.  Christ 's death on the cross turned it from an instrument of death to an instrument of life.  He nailed our sins and death to the cross. The cross is the universal sign of Christianity. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us the following:

618 The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the "one mediator between God and men".452 But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, "the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery" is offered to all men.453 He calls his disciples to "take up [their] cross and follow [him]",454 for "Christ also suffered for [us], leaving [us] an example so that [we] should follow in his steps."455 In fact Jesus desires to associate with his redeeming sacrifice those who were to be its first beneficiaries.456 This is achieved supremely in the case of his mother, who was associated more intimately than any other person in the mystery of his redemptive suffering.457

Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.458

“The Cross is the greatest gift God could bestow on his elect on earth. There is nothing so necessary, so beneficial, so sweet, or so glorious as to suffer something for Jesus. If you suffer as you ought, the cross will become a precious yolk that Jesus will carry with you.” St. Louis de Montfort

“When you become true lovers of the Crucified, you will always celebrate the Feast of the Cross in the inner temple of the soul, bearing all in silence and not relying on any creature.” St. Paul of the Cross

We adore you, O Lord Jesus Christ, in this church and all the churches of the world, and we bless you, because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world. Amen

452 1 Tim 2:5.
453 GS 22 § 5; cf. § 2.
454 Mt 16:24.
455 1 Pet 2:21.
456 Cf Mk 10:39; Jn 21:18-19; Col 1:24.
457 Cf. Lk 2:35.
458 St. Rose of Lima, cf. P. Hansen, Vita mirabilis (Louvain, 1668)