Exaltation of the Holy Cross: The Wood of Our Redemption
In the ancient world, the cross was an instrument of such profound horror that its very mention evoked disgust. To the Romans, it was the cruelest punishment; to the Jews, a sign of being cursed by God. Yet, in one of history's most astonishing reversals, this same instrument of torture became the central and most glorious symbol of the Christian faith. How did the wood of shame become the Wood of our Redemption?
The answer lies at the heart of the Gospel itself. The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is not a celebration of suffering, but of a divine paradox: that the deepest humiliation, embraced by perfect love, becomes the greatest victory. In the cross, we see that God's power is made perfect in weakness, and true life is found only through death. This feast, observed on September 14th, invites us to gaze upon the cross not as a relic of the past, but as the eternal tree of life, whose fruits are forgiveness, reconciliation, and everlasting hope. This blog will journey with you through its meaning, history, and enduring significance for modern believers.
This passage will be explored at:
1. The Biblical Foundation: The Cross in Scripture
2. The Historical Roots: Finding the True Cross
3. The Theological Significance: The Wood of Our Redemption
4. Classifying the Traditions and Symbols of the Feast
5. Symbolism of the Cross for the Modern Believer
6. How to Celebrate the Exaltation of the Cross at Home
7. How to Choose a Cross as a Reminder of the Exaltation
8. Conclusion: Embracing the Wood That Brings Life
The Biblical Foundation: The Cross in Scripture
The mystery of the cross is not an afterthought in the biblical narrative; it is the key that unlocks the entire story of salvation.
The Tree of Life and the Wood of Shame
Our journey begins in the Garden of Eden, where God planted the Tree of Life (Genesis 2:9). Adam and Eve, by partaking of the forbidden tree, brought death into the world. The Cross, as the wood on which the Son of God was crucified, is the new and definitive Tree of Life. Where the first tree brought death, the second tree brings life. Saint Paul makes this connection explicit when he writes that Christ became a curse for us by becoming "a curse for us—for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree'" (Galatians 3:13). In a stunning act of love, Christ willingly took upon Himself the curse we deserved, transforming the symbol of condemnation into the very instrument of our blessing.
Foreshadowed in the Old Testament
Long before the event of Calvary, the Spirit of God placed shadows and types of the cross throughout the Old Testament. The most striking prefiguration is found in the Book of Numbers. When the people of Israel were plagued by serpents in the desert, God commanded Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole. All who looked upon it were healed (Numbers 21:8-9). Jesus Himself explicitly connects this episode to His own crucifixion: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life" (John 3:14-15). Just as the bronze serpent was raised for the healing of physical death, so Christ was raised on the cross for the healing of spiritual and eternal death. The wood of the pole became a source of life by God's gracious design, pointing toward the wood of the cross.
Fulfilled in the New Testament
The New Testament writers proclaim the cross as the climax of God's redemptive plan. Saint Paul, who once saw the cross as a stumbling block, came to glory in it, declaring, "For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). In his letter to the Philippians, Paul presents the cross as the supreme act of Christ's humility and obedience, a humility that led to His exaltation: "And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him" (Philippians 2:8-9). The cross is the throne of Christ's glory. The Letter to the Colossians reveals its cosmic victory: "And you, who were dead in your trespasses... God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross" (Colossians 2:13-14). Here, the cross is not merely a painful event, but the very legal document upon which our debt of sin is cancelled and defeated.
The Historical Roots: Finding the True Cross
The deep veneration for the cross is rooted not only in Scripture but also in the tangible history of the Church.
Saint Helena and the Discovery
The principal historical event commemorated by this feast is the discovery of the True Cross in Jerusalem. In the year 326 AD, Saint Helena, the aged mother of the Emperor Constantine, journeyed to the Holy Land to seek the sites of Christ's life and passion. According to tradition, excavations near Golgotha uncovered three crosses. A test was performed: a dead man was brought and laid upon each cross. When he was placed upon the third cross, the man was miraculously restored to life. In this way, the cross of Christ was identified. This finding was not just an archaeological discovery; it was a moment of profound spiritual confirmation, connecting the faith of the Church to the very wood on which her Savior died.
The Dedication of the Basilicas
The discovery of the True Cross led to the construction of magnificent churches in Jerusalem. The first dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built over the sites of both the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, took place on September 13, 335 AD. The following day, September 14th, the True Cross was publicly venerated. This dedication was a powerful declaration: the place of death had become the place of life. The day of the cross's exaltation became a permanent fixture on the Christian calendar, a lasting invitation to remember and honor the instrument of our salvation. The original feast thus commemorates both the finding of the cross and the dedication of the church built to enshrine it.
The Exaltation and the Recovery
The feast also commemorates a later, dramatic event. In the 7th century, the Persian King Chosroes II conquered Jerusalem and carried off the True Cross. It remained in Persian hands for over a decade. In 628 AD, the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius defeated the Persians and negotiated the return of the relic. As the story goes, he attempted to carry the cross back into Jerusalem on foot, but was unable to move until he humbled himself, removed his imperial robes, and walked barefoot, dressed as a simple pilgrim. This event powerfully illustrates a central truth of the cross: it can only be approached in humility. The recovery of the cross was seen as a vindication of the faith and a further reason for the Church to exalt the wood that had been so violently profaned.
The Theological Significance: The Wood of Our Redemption
The cross is not merely a historical event or a physical relic; it is the central theological reality of Christianity.
The Altar of the New Covenant
In the Old Covenant, sacrifices were offered on altars to atone for sin. The cross is the altar of the New Covenant. On this single, definitive altar, Jesus Christ, the eternal High Priest, offered Himself once and for all (Hebrews 9:12-14). Unlike the animal sacrifices that could never truly take away sins, the sacrifice of Christ on the cross was a perfect offering, sufficient to redeem the whole world. It is not a sacrifice that needs to be repeated; its power is eternal and complete. The cross is the place where divine justice and divine mercy meet.
The Tree of Life Restored
As we saw in Genesis, the way to the Tree of Life was barred after the Fall. The cross is that Tree of Life, now made freely accessible to all who come to Christ in faith. Its fruit is not a perishable fruit, but the very body and blood of Christ, offering eternal sustenance. The Vexilla Regis, an ancient hymn for the feast, beautifully expresses this: "Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle, sing the final, crown the strife; Christ the royal standard-bearer, from the tree of shame and life." The cross is our tree of life, the source of our healing and our eternal nourishment.
The Victory Over Sin and Death
The cross is the battlefield where Christ won the decisive victory over sin, death, and the devil. On the surface, it appeared to be a defeat. Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried. The powers of darkness seemed to have triumphed. But appearances were deceiving. As Saint Paul wrote, "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him" (Colossians 2:15). The cross was not a defeat but the tactic of divine warfare. Jesus used the instrument of His apparent defeat to defeat the very powers that sought to destroy Him. The cross is the victory trophy of Christ the King. As the ancient liturgy proclaims, "This is the sign of the cross, which shall be in the heavens when the Lord shall come."
The Lens of Salvation
The cross is the lens through which we must view all of life. It reveals the immense love of God. It shows the true horror of sin. It demonstrates the cost of our salvation. It teaches us the meaning of obedience, suffering, and hope. Without the cross, we cannot truly understand God's character, the gravity of human rebellion, or the depth of divine mercy. The cross is the central revelation of all truth.
Classifying the Traditions and Symbols of the Feast
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross has inspired rich liturgical traditions and symbols.
Liturgical Solemnity
In the liturgical life of the Church, this is a feast of the highest rank. The Mass for the day is marked by readings that focus on the cross's saving power, such as the Gospel of John's account of the crucifixion. The liturgical color is red, the color of martyrdom and the fire of the Spirit. In many churches, a special rite of veneration is celebrated, where a cross is solemnly unveiled and the faithful are invited to approach and adore it, often with a kiss. This is not an act of worshipping the object itself, but of honoring the One whose sacrifice it represents, and through this tangible act, drawing closer to the mystery of His love.
Veneration of the Cross
On this feast, the "Veneration of the Cross," a rite more commonly associated with Good Friday, is often repeated. The faithful process forward to make a profound bow, kneel, or kiss the image of the crucified Christ. This act of reverence is a powerful devotional practice. It is a moment to place all our burdens, sorrows, and thanksgivings at the foot of the cross. It is an act of humble surrender, acknowledging our need for the One who died for us.
Domestic and Personal Devotions
This feast is also a powerful invitation to enrich our personal and family prayer lives. The simplest and most profound act is to make the Sign of the Cross with greater reverence, remembering its meaning as a short prayer of faith. Having a crucifix prominently displayed in your home can serve as a daily reminder of the Wood of our Redemption. Consider spending a few moments on this day before your family crucifix, offering a prayer of thanksgiving, such as, "We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world." This simple practice unites the home to the prayer of the universal Church.
Symbolism of the Cross for the Modern Believer
The ancient symbol of the cross continues to speak with profound power in our modern world.
The Sign of Contradiction
The cross remains a sign of contradiction, as Simeon prophesied to Mary (Luke 2:34). It challenges the world's values. Where the world seeks power, the cross reveals strength in weakness. Where the world demands success, the cross glorifies faithful obedience even unto failure. Where the world pursues comfort, the cross calls us to embrace sacrifice. In an age of self-promotion, the cross calls us to self-emptying. To embrace the cross is to stand against the current of the world, to assert that the values of the Kingdom are radically different from the values of the age.
The Source of True Strength
The cross offers an unwavering source of comfort and strength in the midst of suffering. It tells us that our pain is not meaningless. Our suffering is united to Christ's own suffering and can be a means of grace. When we face our own "Golgothas," we can look to the cross and know that we do not suffer alone. Christ has entered into our suffering and transformed it. He gives us the grace to endure, and the hope that, as we share in His sufferings, we will also share in His glory. The cross is our ultimate source of hope and resilience.
The Model of Discipleship
For every Christian, the cross is the definitive model of discipleship. Jesus calls us personally, saying, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). This is not a call to seek out suffering, but a call to embrace the daily reality of living for Christ in a fallen world. It means saying "no" to our self-centered desires and "yes" to God's will. It means loving sacrificially. It means forgiving those who hurt us. It means persevering in faith through trials. The cross is not a burden to be dreaded, but the very path to life and to the joy of intimate communion with our Lord.
How to Celebrate the Exaltation of the Cross at Home
You can bring the spirit of this great feast into your home through simple, meaningful practices.
Make the Sign of the Cross with Reverence
The most accessible way to celebrate is to rediscover the Sign of the Cross. Often made in a hasty, almost automatic way, it is a profound prayer. When you make the Sign, do it slowly, consciously, with your whole heart. Let it be a mini-profession of faith: a confession of the Holy Trinity, and a declaration that your life is marked by the cross of Christ.
Pray Before a Crucifix
Choose a time on this feast day to simply stand or kneel before a crucifix in your home. Gaze upon it in silence. Let your eyes trace the wounds. Let your heart be still. Offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the immense love revealed there. Let that act of contemplation renew your trust in God and your hope in His promises. You may find it helpful to slowly recite the words of the ancient prayer: "We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world."
Perform an Act of Charity
The cross is the ultimate act of self-giving love. Honor its exaltation by performing a concrete act of charity. This is a way of "taking up your cross" in a small but powerful way. It could be a visit to someone who is lonely, a charitable donation, a simple act of kindness to a family member, or reaching out to someone you need to forgive. By giving of yourself, you are making the love of the cross visible in the world.
Bless Your Home with a Cross
Many Christian traditions include the practice of blessing the home and marking the doorframe with a cross. This is a symbolic act of claiming your home for Christ and seeking His protection. You can do this on the feast itself. With a piece of blessed chalk, you can inscribe a cross and the year over your main door, perhaps with a short prayer, asking God to bless your home and all who enter it.
How to Choose a Cross as a Reminder of the Exaltation
A beautifully crafted cross in your home or worn on your person can serve as a constant, tangible reminder of the Wood of our Redemption.
A Crucifix for Your Prayer Corner
A crucifix—a cross bearing the image of Christ's sacred body—is a profound focal point for any home prayer corner, inviting us to contemplate the depth of His love made visible in His passion. The Ornate St. Benedict Crucifix Desktop Ornament with Gold Finish & Pearl Accents serves this purpose beautifully. Its rich gold finish and pearl accents speak of the kingly glory paradoxically revealed through the cross, while the St. Benedict medal reminds us of the cross's power as our shield against evil. Placed on a desk, nightstand, or shelf, this ornament transforms an ordinary space into a sacred reminder of Christ's victory and our call to abide in His protection.
A Cross for Daily Wear
Wearing a cross is a simple, powerful way to carry the mystery of the Exaltation with us throughout the day. It serves as a personal, portable reminder of our identity in Christ and our calling to take up our cross daily. The Cross Necklace with "I Can Do All Things" Inscription combines the central symbol of our faith with the empowering words of Scripture, reminding us that true strength comes from the One who loved us and gave Himself up for us. For a more tactile and versatile reminder, the Handmade Earth Tone Elastic Rosary Bracelet is an ideal choice, connecting us to the wood of the cross through its natural tones and serving as a practical prayer tool.
A Wall Cross for Your Home
A wall cross in the home serves as a silent but powerful proclamation of faith, turning a house into a home sanctified by the presence of the cross. The Biblical Verse Cross Metal Wall Decor: Daily Faith Reminder combines the imagery of the cross with the eternal truth of God's Word, fostering a daily atmosphere of faith. For a piece that powerfully evokes the sacrificial reality of the cross, the Crown of Thorns Jesus Cross Metal Wall Decor: Heartfelt Faith Statement is deeply moving, visually capturing the paradox of glory through suffering and reminding us that suffering, united to Christ, is transformed into glory.
Conclusion: Embracing the Wood That Brings Life
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is far more than a historical commemoration of a relic. It is a vibrant, living celebration of the greatest paradox in history: that the instrument of the most agonizing death has become the source of eternal life. The wood of the cross, once a symbol of shame, has been transformed by the blood of the Son of God into the true Tree of Life, planted at the center of the world for the salvation of all who believe.
As we journey through the challenges of our own lives, let us not be afraid of our crosses. Let us not flee from them, but embrace them as the very path to transformation and victory. For the cross is our hope, our strength, and our glory. It is the sign of God's unconditional love, the victory over sin and death, and the promise of our resurrection.
May this feast be an invitation to you to look upon the cross with new eyes—not as a symbol of defeat, but as the eternal emblem of the victory that has already been won. Embrace it in your heart, display it in your home, and wear it as your badge of faith. For the cross is not just a memory; it is a living reality that continues to work redemption in our lives today.
We invite you to explore our collection of crucifixes, cross necklaces, and wall crosses at Christian Art Workshop. Let these sacred objects be more than decor—let them be daily reminders of the wood that has become our life, our hope, and our everlasting salvation.
