Feast of the Holy Cross Thousand Jesuses

In the seventh century, the Church in Rome adopted the practice of Adoration of the Cross from the Church in Jerusalem, where a fragment of wood believed to be the Lord’s cross had been venerated every year on Good Friday since the fourth century. According to tradition, a part of the Holy Cross was discovered by the mother of the emperor Constantine, St. Helen, on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 326. A fifth century account describes this service in Jerusalem. A coffer of gold-plated silver containing the wood of the cross was brought forward. The bishop placed the relic on a table in the chapel of the Crucifixion and the faithful approached it, touching brow and eyes and lips to the wood as the priest said (as every priest has done ever since): ‘Behold, the Wood of the Cross.’

Adoration or veneration of an image or representation of Christ’s cross does not mean that we actually adore the material image, of course, but rather what it represents. In kneeling before the crucifix and kissing it, we are paying the highest honor to Our Lord’s cross as the instrument of our salvation. Because the Cross is inseparable from His sacrifice, in reverencing His Cross we, in effect, adore Christ. Thus we affirm: ‘We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee because by Thy Holy Cross Thou has Redeemed the World’. (cna)

For this reason, today the Church continues to venerate the Holy Cross. The Cross represents the symbol of Christianity, and it is the instrument of the passion and death of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Cross is a symbol of the love of God. On the Cross, Our Lord Jesus Christ gave His life to save all of us from sin and give us eternal life. Therefore, the Cross is a symbol of redemption. Each year, the Church celebrates the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on September 14th. I want to introduce you to a Colombian tradition called Los Mil Jesuses (Thousand Jesuses). This tradition consists literally saying “Jesus” one thousand times. I invite you to come and to experience this Colombian tradition this coming September 14th at 3:00 p.m. You need to bring faith, love for Jesus, and the Holy Rosary, which are necessary to pray this wonderful prayer. In addition, please write a petition which will be burned at the end of the prayer. If you forget to bring your petition, don’t worry. We will give you paper and pen so you can write a petition on the day of the Holy Cross.

Please, share this marvelous tradition, and invite your family and friends to come and pray and venerate the Holy Cross. If you have any questions about this tradition, please stop by, and I will be happy to answer your questions.

Remember, The parish that we dream is the parish that I help to build!

God bless you, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always!

Fr. Jorge Ramirez