The week of September 6-14 is dedicated to remembering the power of the Cross, culmination in the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on September 14. This feast originated in Jerusalem in 355AD to commemorate the dedication of the Basilica of the Resurrection. When the true cross of Jesus was found a few years later by St. Helena, the two events were celebrated on the same day. In time, the Feast of the Exaltation supplanted the Feast of Dedication.

          For the next centuries Jerusalem changed political hands and several relics related to the early days of Christianity were lost. in 628AD, Byzantine Emporer Heraclius III defeated the Persians and returned the Holy Cross to Jerusalem. While in past tiems, pilgrims undertook long journeys to venerate and exalt relics such as the Holy Cross, we can do so by using a novena to exalt it in our lives.

Go to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross page to find the Novena