Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Today's Mass Readings

Cross

How many times do I cross myself in a day? As a monk, it’s a lot.

Some years ago, before I entered the monastery, I was in the house chapel of some contemplative Missionaries of Charity in a poor neighborhood of Washington, DC. Attending early morning Mass before the day’s work of ministry, I noticed a man sitting on a chair in the corner of the small room. He was slumped over in prayer or stupor—in such a setting, it could have been either one or both. Before it began and throughout the liturgy, the man would slowly cross himself at random times—even when uncalled for.

At first, it was distracting, but then I reconsidered the man and what he was doing. Perhaps he was praying in the only way he knew how. Perhaps he was blessing himself repeatedly to drive away evil thoughts or spirits. Perhaps it was the only conscious thing he could do or had the energy for. In any case, the witness of this pitiable man crossing himself in the corner of a house chapel in Washington, DC, has stuck with me.

The gesture is a prayer itself. Let’s do it now, together: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” There are a few different ways to do it, depending on one’s Christian tradition. But one way is to touch the fingers of your right hand to your forehead, the belly, the left shoulder, and the right shoulder while saying the doxology above.

We see sports players cross themselves. Actors in the movies do it, too. Sometimes it’s meant to be a humorous thing. Sometimes it’s done genuinely in times of stress or great worry.

Sacred Tradition tells us that today’s feast commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by Saint Helena, the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine. Today, it serves as a reminder of the central role of the Cross in our salvation. May we never cease to glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For the Journey

Let us cross ourselves mindfully. Let us look for the cross in our home, on our commute, at our workplace. If there’s not one there, why not get one? You can buy one or make one, and exalt the Cross! It is our salvation from the snakebite of sin and death. It only takes one hopeful look.

Reflection by Br. Luke Kral, OSB