(7th century) The date marks the miraculous discovery of the True Cross by Saint Helena (see August 18), and later the dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in 335 on the same location.
All of human history flows to that one moment and from that moment of the Sacrifice of the God-man, priest and offering, Jesus Christ. It shows us the fullness of Love, to pour out everything for the beloved. “To suffer with the other and for others; to suffer for the sake of truth and justice; to suffer out of love and in order to become a person who truly loves—these are fundamental elements of humanity, and to abandon them would destroy man himself” (Pope Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter Spes Salve, On Christian Hope). The Cross refocuses us on an eternal perspective, that there is a Higher Power much greater than this momentary pleasure (or pain). “There is no better wood for feeding the fire of God’s love than the wood of the Cross” (Saint Ignatius of Loyola). What does meditating (Step 11) on the Cross do for your recovery?
“Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven” (Saint Rose of Lima).
Reflection by Brad Farmer