From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   May 3rd - The Finding of the Holy Cross   
   by Father Prosper Gueranger 1870   
      
   The Liturgy gives us the following history of the great event we are   
   celebrating today.   
      
   After the great victory gained over Maxentius by the Emperor   
   Constantine, under the standard of our Lord's Cross, which had been   
   miraculously shown to him, Helen, his mother, was told in a dream to   
   repair to Jerusalem and search for the true Cross. Upon her arrival,   
   she ordered to be taken down a marble statue of Venus, which had been   
   erected by the Pagans, some 180 years before, in order that all memory   
   of our Lord's Passion might be obliterated. She did the same for the   
   place where there reposed the Saviour's Crib, as also for the site of   
   the Resurrection; removing from the former an idol of Adonis, and from   
   the latter an idol of Jupiter.   
      
   The place, where the Cross was supposed to be, having been excavated,   
   three crosses were discovered at a great depth below the surface; and   
   with them, though not attached, the Title that had been fastened to   
   our Lord's Cross. The doubt as to which of the three Crosses the Title   
   belonged was removed by a miracle. After having prayed to God,   
   Macarius, the Bishop of Jerusalem, applied each of the Crosses to a   
   woman, who was afflicted with a dangerous malady. The first two   
   produced no result; the third was then applied, and the woman was   
   restored to perfect heath.   
      
   The Holy Cross being thus found, Helen built a magnificent Church in   
   Jerusalem, in which she placed a portion of the Cross, enshrined in a   
   silver case; the remaining part she took to her son Constantine, and   
   it was put in the Church called Holy Cross in Jerusalem, which was   
   built on the site of the Sessorian palace. She also took to her son   
   the Nails, wherewith the most holy Body of Christ Jesus had been   
   fastened to the Cross. Constantine passed a law, that from that time   
   forward, a cross should never be used as an instrument of punishment;   
   and thus, what hitherto had been an object of reproach and derision,   
   became one of veneration and glory.   
      
   Both the Eastern and Western Churches abound in Liturgical   
   compositions in honour of the Holy Cross. We offer our readers a   
   selection from these, beginning with the glorious verses of Venantius   
   Fortunatus.   
      
      
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   He was pierced with the cruel Spear, that, by the Water and the Blood,   
   which flowed from the wound, He might cleanse us from sin.   
   Here, on the Cross was fulfilled the prophecy foretold in David's   
   truthful words: "God hath reigned from the Tree."   
   O fair and shining Tree! beautified by the scarlet of the King, and   
   chosen as the noble trunk that was to touch such sacred limbs.   
   O blessed Tree! on whose arms hung the ransom of the world! It was the   
   balance, wherein was placed the Body of Jesus, and thereby hell lost   
   its prey.   
   Hail, O Cross! our only hope, that bringest us the Paschal joy.   
   Increase to the good their grace, and cleanse sinners from their   
   guilt.   
   May every spirit praise thee, O Holy Trinity, thou Fount of salvation!   
   and by the Cross, whereby thou gavest us victory, give us, too, our   
   recompense. Amen.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   My confidence is placed in God who does not need our help for   
   accomplishing his designs. Our single endeavor should be to give   
   ourselves to the work and to be faithful to him, and not to spoil his   
   work by our shortcomings   
   --St. Isaac Jogues   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Fulfil ye my joy, that you be of one mind, having the same charity,   
   being of one accord, agreeing in sentiment.  Let nothing be done   
   through contention: neither by vain glory. But in humility, let each   
   esteem others better than themselves:Each one not considering the   
   things that are his own, but those that are other men's.  [Philippians   
   2:2-4] DRB   
      
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   Hymn: The Cross of Christ   
   Gal. vi. 14:--"God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of   
   our Lord Jesus Christ." "When we rise, the cross; when we lie down,   
   the cross; in our studies, the cross; everywhere and at every time,   
   the cross--shining more glorious than the sun."--St. Chrysostom.   
      
   O Child of God, remember,   
   When thou to Christ wast born,   
   How then across thine infant breast   
   His sacred sign was drawn.   
      
   And when confirming Chrism   
   Upon thy brow was laid,   
   How in that sign the Holy Ghost   
   His grace upon thee shed.   
      
   Therefore, when sleep invites thee   
   To take thy needful rest,   
   Be sure that with the sacred cross   
   Thou sign thy brow and breast.   
      
   The cross hath wondrous virtue   
   All evil to control;   
   To scatter darkness, and to calm   
   The tempest of the soul.   
      
   What though in sleep this body   
   May helpless seem to lie?   
   I nothing fear, assured that   
   One Stronger than all is nigh.   
      
   On Him my heart shall ponder,   
   E'en while my rest I take;   
   My shield and shelter while I sleep.   
   My joy when I awake.   
      
   Music: Crux Fidelis, O Crux Ave and O Sacred Head Surrounded   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)