Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross

Today is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. Today is the day that Saint Helena the mother of emperor Constantine found the True Cross in Jerusalem near a cistern by Mount Calvary in the year 326 A.D. Three crosses were found and one of them had the inscription "Jesus King of the Jews". Saint Helena had a terminally ill woman touch each cross and when the woman touched the True Cross she was miraculously healed. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built on Mount Calvary and the exact location where the True Cross was found is enclosed within the church. I had the blessing to be able to visit this location when we visited Jerusalem two years back.
The Cross which was a symbol of shame and extreme humiliation was glorified by Jesus Christ who was crucified on the Holy Cross for our salvation. His death and resurrection freed us from the eternal death due to the sin of our first parents Adam and Eve. We rejoice today for on this Holy Cross Jesus brought us healing and redemption and new life.
On life's journey we are all sure to encounter crosses. Our crosses are tailored for us and will never exceed our capacity to bear them graciously. The burdens of our daily life are the crosses we need to bear with patience and endurance. We should never flee from our crosses but accept it as a gift where Jesus allows us a small participation in His suffering. As a mother I often wish to undergo the pains of my own children just to get a perspective of what they are going through. I'm sure you may have had similar experiences with your own children or your spouse. When we love someone we wish to participate in all aspects of their life including taking a sip of their suffering. Jesus allowed room in His suffering for us to take part because He loves us like a bridegroom who loves His bride the Church. When we follow Jesus we pick up our crosses and follow Him willingly and the Holy Spirit assists us in this. In moments of suffering if we can remember this, then only we will be able to love the cross and not flee from it.
Did you know that it is a Carmelite discipline to observe a fast that begins on the Exaltation of the Cross which is on September 14th and ends on Easter Sunday. This fast is observed by eating one small meal and one full meal each day except on Sundays. Also Carmelites observe a vegetarian diet as long as health permits. Lay Carmelites are not required to observe this but there are several Lay Carmelites who strive to observe this fast so as to follow more closely the Rule of Saint Albert in their daily life.
"16 [XII, xiv] You are to fast every day except Sundays from the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross until Easter Sunday, unless illness or bodily weakness, or other just cause counsels a lifting of the fast, since necessity has no law. 17 [XIII, xv] You are to abstain from meat, unless it is to be taken as a remedy for illness or bodily weakness. Since you must more frequently beg on journeys, in order not to burden your hosts you may eat food cooked with meat outside your own houses. At sea, however, meat may be eaten." - From The Rule of Saint Albert
"We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee, because by the Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world"
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