September 14, 2025 - 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The Church lifts high the Cross of Christ, the sign of our salvation and the source of our hope. This feast celebrates a double anniversary. In Jerusalem, Constantine erected the Anastasis above the empty grave of Jesus, the Martyrium basilica nearby, and in between, the Calvarium shrine marking the place of the crucifixion. Dedicated in 335, these holy sites were destroyed and rebuilt several times until the present Church of the Holy Sepulcher was completed by the Crusaders in 1149. Today also recalls the discovery of the Lord’s Cross by St. Helena in 320. This history reminds us that while earthly buildings may rise and fall, the Cross itself endures forever—the sign of God’s victory over sin, evil, and death.
The Cross of St. Benedict proclaims this victory in a powerful way. Around the medal are inscribed prayers of exorcism and protection: Crux sacra sit mihi lux — “May the holy Cross be my light.” Non draco sit mihi dux — “Let not the dragon (Satan) be my guide.” Vade retro Satana! — “Begone, Satan!” Nunquam suade mihi vana — “Never tempt me with your vanities.” Sunt mala quae libas; ipse venena bibas — “The drink you offer is evil; drink that poison yourself.” These words are not superstition or magic, but a proclamation of faith: that through the Cross of Christ, the devil is powerless. The medal is used as a prayer of exorcism against spiritual attacks, temptations, and dangers. It is a visible reminder that Christ has conquered, and that His Cross protects those who call on Him with faith.
We also see this lived devotion in the prayer many Latino families make with the triple cross before prayer: “Por la señal de la Santa Cruz, de nuestros enemigos líbranos Señor, Dios nuestro: Padre, Hijo, Espiritu Santo.” (“By the sign of the Holy Cross, deliver us from our enemies, Lord our God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”) With this gesture—crossing the forehead, lips, and heart—we ask God to purify our thoughts, words, and desires, and to keep us safe from every evil.
On this feast, let us lift high the Cross—not only in our churches, but in our homes and hearts. May the Cross be our light, our protection, and our strength in every circumstance of life. As St. Paul said: “May I never boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal 6:14).
God bless everyone always!!!
Fr. Stan
