Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.


Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

You decreed that we should be saved through the wood of the cross.

The tree of our defeat became our tree of victory;
where life was lost, there life has been restored
through Christ our Lord
God of Glory,
the Cross shines as a sign
of obedience to your will
and a symbol of your love
for the world.

Bless us who find salvation
in the cross of Christ;
may we always recognize his glory
in the weak, suffering and condemned of the world.

We ask this through Christ, crucified and exalted,
who is Lord forever and ever.

Amen.


Inscription at the bottom of the vintage image, available at the Library of Congress online: "The Christian's refuge: Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee. In my hand no price I bring, simply to the cross I cling."