Feast Day: Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Today is the feast day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, which originates from Rome at the end of the seventh century. The early Christians realized the important of the cross because it represented Jesus' work and sacrifice, but at that time the cross was not commonly used to symbolize Christianity like it does today. Instead other symbols were used like the orant or fish. Devotion to the cross in Christian life grew over time. The cross was used as a way of praying, the sign of the cross or tracing the cross on a forehead, and was seen in the homes of Christians. It is said that the wood of the Cross was recovered around 355 A.D. by St. Helena, the mother of Constantine, and since then the practice of venerating the cross has increased.

To celebrated the feast day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross we attended morning mass. Monkey was surprisingly behaved which meant I was able to both listen and participate in the mass, imagine that! I had plans of a coloring page and cross cookies but Monkey was somewhat destructive today. So I took away the chewed up marker and opted of gingersnap cookies instead.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

 John 3:16-17