joy of nine9

The only reason to exalt the cross is because of the work of salvation Jesus accomplished on that piece of wood and our unending, incredulous gratitude. If we really stop and think about it, this sacrifice  is ‘ mind blowing’  because the Almighty God of the Universe suffered agony and humiliation to save us from ourselves, our guilt, shame and utter failure to save ourselves.

“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made,

He would have done no less.” 

This feast is called in Greek Ὕψωσις τοῦ Τιμίου καὶ Ζωοποιοῦ Σταυροῦ^[1] (“Raising Aloft of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross”) and in Latin Exaltatio Sanctae Crucis. In English, it is called The Exaltation of the Holy Cross in the official translation of the Roman Missal, while the 1973 translation called it The Triumph of the Cross. 

The True Cross was discovered in 326 by Saint Helena, the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was then built at the site/ The church was dedicated nine years later, with a portion of the cross The date of the feast marks the dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in 335.