The Feast of The Triumph of The Cross of Jesus Christ: September 14th; Novena: 9/5–9/13:
“On the Feast of the Exaltation of The Cross (or Triumph of The Cross) we honor The Holy Cross by which Christ redeemed the world. The public veneration of The Cross of Christ originated in the fourth century, according to early accounts. The miraculous discovery of The Cross on A.D. September 14, 326, by Saint Helen, mother of Constantine, while she was on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, is the origin of the tradition of celebrating the Feast of the Exaltation of The Cross on this date. Constantine later built the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on the site of her discovery of The Cross. On this same pilgrimage she ordered two other churches built: one in Bethlehem near the Grotto of The Nativity, the other on the Mount of The Ascension, near Jerusalem.
In the Western Church the Feast came into prominence in the seventh century — after A.D. 629, when the Byzantine emperor Heraclitus restored The Holy Cross to Jerusalem, after defeating the Persians who had stolen it.
Christians “exalt” (raise on high) The Cross of Christ as the instrument of our salvation. Adoration of The Cross is, thus, adoration of Jesus Christ, The God-Man, Who suffered and died on this Roman instrument of torture for our redemption from sin and death. The Cross represents The One Sacrifice by which Jesus, Obedient even unto death, accomplished our salvation. The Cross is a symbolic summary of The Passion, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ — all in one image.
The Cross — because of what it represents — is the most potent and universal Symbol of The Christian Faith. It has inspired both liturgical and private devotions: for example, the Sign of The Cross, which is an invocation of The Holy Trinity; the “little” Sign of The Cross on head, lips and heart at the reading of the Gospel; praying the Stations (or Way) of The Cross; and the Veneration of The Cross by the faithful on Good Friday by kissing The Feet of The Image of Our Savior Crucified.
Placing a crucifix (the cross with an image of Christ’s Most Sacred Body upon it) in churches and homes, in classrooms of Catholic schools and in other Catholic institutions, or wearing this image on our persons, is a constant reminder — and witness — of Christ’s Ultimate Triumph, His Victory over sin and death through His Suffering and Dying on The Cross.
We remember Our Lord’s words, “He who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. He, who finds his life, will lose it, and he, who loses his life for My Sake, shall find it” (St. Matt. 10:38,39). Meditating on these words we unite ourselves — our souls and bodies — with His Obedience and His Sacrifice; and we rejoice in this inestimable Gift through which we have the hope of salvation and the glory of everlasting life.
Dying, Thou destroyedst our death; rising Thou restoredst our life. Save us by Thy Cross, Christ our Redeemer. (Antiphon for Afternoon prayer)”
Women for Faith & Family (St Louis: Women for Faith & Family, 2005: www.wf‑f.org).
The Propers for the Feast of The Exaltation/Triumph of The Cross:
September 14th
Red worn by the Priest
1st Class Feast in the Tridentine/Traditional Calendar:
Chosroes, king of Persia, carried away the relic of the True Cross to Persia; but Heraclius, ascending to the throne of Judea, defeated Chosroes and himself carried the Cross to the Basilica on Calvary A.D. 629.
INTROIT: Gal. 6. 14
Nos autem gloriari oportet in Cruce Domini nostri Iesu Christi: in quo est Salus, Vita, et Resurrectio nostra: per quem Salus, Vita, et Resurrectio nostra: per quem salvati, et liberati sumus. — Deus misereatur nostri, et benedicat nobis: illuminet Vultum suum super nos, et misereatur nostri. V.: Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto, — Nos autem gloriari oportet in Cruce Domini nostri Jesu Christi: in quo est Salus, Vita, et Resurrectio nostra.
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. — (Ps. 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, — But it behooves us to glory in The Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ: in Whom is our Salvation, Life, and Resurrection.
COLLECT
Deus, qui nos hodierna die Exaltationis Sanctae Crucis annua solemnitate laetificas: praesta quaesumus; ut cuius Mysterium in terra cognovimus, eius Redemptionis praemia in Caelo mereamur. Per eumdem Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, Filium Tuum …
O God, Who on this day dost gladden us by the yearly feast of the Exaltation of The Holy Cross: grant, we beseech Thee, that we, who on earth, acknowledge The Mystery of Redemption wrought upon it, may be found worthy to enjoy the rewards of that same Redemption in Heaven. Through The Same our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in Unity with The Holy Ghost, ever One God, forever and ever. Amen..
EPISTLE: Phil. 2. 5–11
Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Philippians. / Lectio Epistolae beati Paulo Apostoli ad Philippenses.
[The triumph of The Redeemer of the world, Our Lord Jesus Christ, must be preceded by “His humiliation unto death, even the Death of The Cross.”]
Fratres: Hoc enim sentite in vobis, quod et in Christo Iesu: qui cum in forma Dei esset, non rapinam arbitratus est esse se aequalem Deo: sed semetipsum exinanivit formam servi accipiens, in similitudinem hominum factus, et habitu inventus ut homo. Humiliavit semetipsum, factus obediens usque ad mortem, Mortem autem Crucis. Propter quod et Deus exaltavit Illum: et donavit Illi Nomen, quod est super omne nomen: [Here all genuflect.] ut in Nomine Iesu omne genu flectatur celestium, terrestrium, et infernorum: et omnis lingua confiteatur, quia Dominus Iesus Christus in gloria est Dei Patris.
Brethren, let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: 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 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: [Here all genuflect.] 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: Phil. 2. 8, 9
Christus factus est pro nobis obediens usque ad mortem, Mortem autem Crucis. V.: Propter quod et Deus exaltavit Illum, et dedit Illi Nomen, quod est super omne nomen. Alleluia, alleluia. V.: Dulce lignum, dulces clavos, dulcea Ferens pondera: quae sola fuisti digna sustinere Regem Coelorum, et Dominum. Alleluia.
Christ became obedient for us unto death: even The Death of The cross. V.: Wherefore God also hath exalted Him, and hath given a Name which is above every name. Alleluia, alleluia. V.: Sweet the wood, sweet the nails, sweet The Load that hangs on Thee: Thou only wast worthy to bear up The King and Lord of Heaven. Alleluia.
GOSPEL ¤ John 12. 31–36
† Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. John. / † Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Ioannum.
[The Son of Man must be lifted up.]
In illo tempore: Dixit Iesus turbis Iudaeorum: “Nunc iudicium est mundi: nunc princeps huius mundi eiicietur foras. Et ego si exaltatus fuero a terra, omnia traham ad meipsum.” (Hoc autem dicebat, significans qua morte esset moriturus.) Respondit ei turba: “Nos audivimus ex lege, quia Christus manet in aeternum: et quomodo tu dicis: Oportet exaltari Filium hominis? quis est iste Filius hominis?” Dixit ergo eis Iesus: “Adhuc modicum lumen in vobis est. Ambulate dum lucem habetis, ut non vos tenebrae comprehendant; et qui ambulat in tenebris, nescit quo vadat. Dum lucem habetis, credite in lucem, ut filii lucis sitis.
At that time: Jesus said to the multitudes of the Jews, Now is the judgement 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:
Protege, Domine, Plebem Tuam per Signum Sanctae Crucis, ab insidiis inimicorum omnium: ut Tibi gratam exhibeamus servitutem, et acceptabile fiat sacrificium nostrum. Alleluia.
By the Sign of The Holy Cross, O Lord, protect Thy People from the wiles of all our enemies that we may be able to do Thee worthy service, and that our sacrifice may be well-pleasing in Thy Sight. Alleluia.
SECRET:
Iesu Christi Domini nostri corpore et sanguine saginandi, per quem Crucis est sanctificatum vexillum: quaesumus Domine Deus noster; ut, sicut illud adorare meruimus, ita perenniter eius gloriae salutaris potiamur effectu. Per eumdem Dominum …
We, who are about to feed on The Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord, by Whom the banner of The Holy Cross was sanctified, beseech Thee, O Lord our God, that since we have been found worthy to venerate that same Holy Sign, it may be ours to enjoy forevermore the salvation secured for us by its triumph. Through The Same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in Unity with The Holy Ghost, ever One God, forever and ever. Amen.
PREFACE: Preface of The Holy Cross
Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine Sancte, Pater Omnipotens, Aeterne Deus. Qui salutem humani generis in ligno crucis constituisti: ut, unde mors oriebatur, inde vita resurgeret: et qui in ligno vincebat, in ligno quoque vinceretur, per Christum Dominum nostrum. Per quem maiestatem tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates. Coeli, coelorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim, socia exsultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti iubeas, deprecamur, supplici confessione dicentes: “Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus,…
It it 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 arise 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 Dominations 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: “Holy, Holy, Holy,…
COMMUNION:
Per Signum Crucis de inimicis nostris libera nos, Deus noster. / By The Sign of The Cross, deliver us from our enemies, O Thou our God.
POSTCOMMUNION:
Adesto nobis, Domine Deus noster, et quos sanctae Crucis laetari facis honore, eius quoque perpetuis defende subsidiis. Per Dominum nostrum …
Be present with us, O Lord our God, and do Thou, who makest us to rejoice in honor of The Holy Cross, defend us evermore by its help. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in Unity with The Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
© & All Rights Reserved, The Holy Family House, A.D. 2012 and on.
Can be copied & distributed, GRATIS ONLY, with attribution. + A.M.D.G.