September 23, 2026

By Father William Muench
NCC columnist

I am writing today on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Jesus. Jesus died on a cross, so the cross is sacred for us, Catholics. A cross makes us immediately think of Jesus – a cross helps us recall the crucifixion of Jesus. We believe that the Lord Jesus, the Son of God, came among us to show us the way – to guide us and to die for us on a cross. Jesus came in love and peace. However, some opposed him and decided to crucify him. Jesus died on a cross. Jesus won our salvation, giving his life for us. So, ever since, we place crosses on and around our Churches. I like to believe that when a person passes a Catholic Church and sees the cross, they will realize that here are people with faith in God and live according to his love and peace. The cross will always be important to us, Catholics.

Consider this – the first prayer you and I learned as children was the Sign of the Cross. So, as we turn to the Lord for prayer, we make the Sign of the Cross – this sacred gesture in the form of a cross. This gesture has become second nature to us, Catholics. It a prayer. Bishops and priests make the Sign of the Cross when blessing someone or something. When a priest absolves a person in the Sacrament of Penance, he absolves with the Sign of the Cross over the penitent.

This Feast Day of the Exaltation of the Cross of Jesus reminds us that we also celebrate the cross on Good Friday during Holy Week as we move toward Easter. Remembering the death of Jesus on the cross during the Good Friday Service, a large cross is brought to the sanctuary of the church. Then the congregation comes forward to venerate the cross. Each of us stands before the cross expressing our gratitude in prayer for all that Jesus did for us and continues to do for us, especially for the forgiveness of sin. It is a time to dedicate ourselves as disciples of the Lord, living our lives well and bringing the love of Jesus to our world. We believe Jesus truly died for us.

There are so many ways that the cross of Jesus enters our spiritual life. Each time we meditate on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, we remember that Jesus carried his cross to Calvary. As we pray, we stand at the foot of the cross as Jesus dies for us. This reminds us to stand with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, who is also there at Calvary. St. John is there representing all of us. “Woman, here is your son.” Jesus calls upon Mary to become mother to all of his disciples and followers. Each time we gather around the altar of the Lord at Mass, we are truly standing at the foot of Christ’s cross. As we pray together, we believe the Lord is present with us, continuing to love and lead us.

This is also a great time to walk around the Stations of the Cross. This time of prayer visiting the 14 Stations of the Cross is an opportunity for us to offer a prayer of gratitude to our Lord who died for us. Jesus promises to walk with us just as he walked the “Via Dolorosa” to Calvary. There are so many crosses that we face in our life – the problems, difficulties, temptations, sins. Jesus knows how to carry a Cross and is ready to support us and walk with us through our crosses.

Jesus humbly suffered for us and then came to his resurrection in glory. He also is ready to lead us to new life.