The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

The 14th of September is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. This is a significant day for Catholics, as it is the day that Pope Benedict XVI promulgated his Moto Proprio Summorum Pontificum declaring that the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite was never abrogated – but remains a part of the liturgical life of the Catholic Church. This reaffirmed what was state by Pope Pius V in his papal bull Quo Primum, that the Missal would be valid forever:

“All other of the churches referred to above, however, are hereby denied the use of other missals, which are to be discontinued entirely and absolutely; whereas, by this present Constitution, which will be valid henceforth, now, and forever, We order and enjoin that nothing must be added to Our recently published Missal, nothing omitted from it, nor anything whatsoever be changed within it under the penalty of Our displeasure.“

On this great feast the emperor Heraclius defeated King Chosroes, retrieving the relic of the True Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ and bringing it back to Jerusalem from Persia.

Crux Fidelis – Hymn

The following hymn is sung on Good Friday and reminds us of the power of the Cross on this feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.