St. Gregory the Great 4 /

From one of our canonical novices, Sister Rose Caritas On the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

To celebrate the "Triumph of the Cross" on September 14 can, at first, seem puzzling. Having already commemorated Christ’s Passion and Death on Good Friday, the Friday before Easter, why then does the Church provide us with a separate feast on which she calls us to celebrate the Cross as a sign of triumph? To solve this puzzle, we must first ask ourselves, “What is the reason for the Cross of Christ? What does it signify?” The answer to these questions is profound in its simplicity: love. When Adam sinned at the very beginning of the world, man’s nature was wounded, and mankind was separated from God; but God did not forsake him. On the contrary, out of love, He foretold in a mysterious way that He would lift man up from the fall. Sacred Scripture unfolds his mysterious plan: God chose to redeem us through the passion, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. On Good Friday we commemorate this passion and death with mourning; but we know that the great mystery does not end there. The Paschal Mystery reaches its fulfillment in the Resurrection,

I n t h e c r o s s w e s e e t h e l o v e a n d f a i t h f u l n e s s o f G o d .

through which He conquers death forever. What we celebrate on September 14th is the Cross as a sign of Love's triumph over evil and sin and death. We rejoice in the reconciliation of Man with God. In the cross we see the love and faithfulness of God. St. Catherine of Siena said that the nails would never have held Jesus to the cross. No. It was Love for us that held him there, love for us which we do not deserve, but which He freely gives. So, on this feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, let us thank the Lord for his great love; and let us beg Him for the grace to offer our crosses of everyday life in union with his; and let us exalt his Cross, for in it we see the cause of all joy and experience the loving faithfulness of God.

Looking back on theSummer

With Gratitude and Joy

B Y S I S T E R M A R I A J O S E P H , O . P .

S

ummertime allows the sisters a chance to reflect and thank the Lord for the completion of another school year and for His promise of future blessing. Our sisters found this summer to be especially touched by joy and gratitude, deepening the already joyful events that annually punctuate summer at St. Cecilia Motherhouse.

The sisters' first delight came in simply being together at our Motherhouse. After completing an unusual school year filled with often difficult challenges, this time to come together in community was a particular time of gratitude. Many hours were spent in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, helping with practical duties at the Motherhouse, personal and community prayer, and simply spending welcome time with one another in community.