THE CROSS, A SYMBOL OF VICTORY AND SALVATION

The crucifix of Fikolongo, in Chililabombwe

FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS

Jesus offered himself in sacrifice for us

It sounds strange that there is a feast celebrating the cross and that the cross may be called holy, since the cross was one of the most terrible instruments of punishment and uncountable numbers of people were crucified dying of a shameful death. However, being so, it deserves a few moments of profound silence, because  this cross dripping human blood stands out for the suffering inflicted on so many innocent people. And it stands out most specially for Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who shed his blood for us on the altar of the cross. The cross was made holy by the one who is most holy, that is by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, who carried our sufferings, “wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities” (Is 53:5).

We confess the cross, in joy and in glory

In the steps of St. Paul, St. Augustine wrote: 

“Brethren, let us then fearlessly acknowledge, and even openly proclaim, that Christ was crucified for us; let us confess it, not in fear but in joy, not in shame but in glory.

  The apostle Paul saw Christ, and extolled his claim to glory. He had many great and inspired things to say about Christ, but he did not say that he boasted in Christ’s wonderful works: in creating the world, since he was God with the Father, or in ruling the world, though he was also a man like us. Rather, he said: Let me not boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Origin of the Feast

The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a very old feast and it marks the dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which took place in 335. St. Helena, mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, went in pilgrimage to the Holy Land and looked for the true cross of Jesus Christ. After she discovered it, a church was built by order of Helena and Constantine. The church with a piece of the cross inside was dedicated  on 14th September and became a place of pilgrimage.

Later, in 614, that portion of the cross was taken away by the Persians, until in 628, the Emperor Heraclius  II defeated the Persians and got back the cross, taking it back to Jerusalem and carrying it to the church in a very solemn procession. According to tradition, being dressed in all his royal splendour, he was not able to enter the church with the cross, until the Bishop of Jerusalem advised him to take off his imperial robes and dress like a penitent, and when he did so, he was able to enter the church carrying the cross on his shoulders.

In Christ, the cross has become the sign of our redemption and or our freedom. The cross is the instrument and the symbol of Jesus’ victory. As Jesus told Nichodemus, “the Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” (Jn 3:14-15).