Podcasts about Holy Cross

Maria Morera Johnson interviews Father Pinto Paul, C.S.C., the International Director of Holy Cross Family Ministries, about the upcoming Global Rosary for Peace. On Sunday, September 7, Holy Cross Family Ministries, in partnership with the University of Notre Dame and the Congregation of Holy Cross, hosted the 75th Anniversary of Father Peyton's Rosary Rally on Bond Quad on the campus of Notre Dame. Families from all over the country gathered to pray together, commemorating this great event! Harnessing this momentum, Holy Cross Family Ministries and the Congregation of Holy Cross are launching a Global Rosary for Peace at 10:00 AM Eastern Time (4:00 PM Rome Time) on October 22, 2025, the Memorial of Saint John Paul II. Saint John Paul II was famously devoted to the Blessed Mother. In his apostolic letter "On the Most Holy Rosary," released in 2003, the Mysteries of the Light were revealed, and devotion to the Rosary was reawakened.  Father Pinto Paul, C.S.C., serves as the International Director of Holy Cross Family Ministries. In his role, Father Pinto will be representing Family Rosary leadership in the 16 countries outside of the United States that have active ministries serving the spiritual and prayer needs of families.   Links for this Episode:  Join the Global Rosary for Peace Read More About the Global Rosary for Peace

Ian Auzenne and Coach Lou Valdin co-hosted WWL's weekly "Prep Football Roundup" live from Destrehan vs. Terrebonne. The guys spoke to WWL reporters at the best games around the state, including Jesuit vs. Holy Cross, Lafayette Christian vs. Central, De La Salle vs. Archbishop Shaw, and St. Augustine vs. Edna Karr, among others. They also heard from winning coaches after the action in week five.

The N.F.L. is a powerful cartel with imperial desires. College football is about to undergo a financial reckoning. So maybe they should team up? (Part one of a two-part series.) SOURCES:DeMaurice Smith, former executive director of the National Football League Players Association.Domonique Foxworth, sports analyst and former N.F.L. player.Jeffrey Kessler, partner at the law firm of Winston & Strawn.Oliver Luck, sports executive and consultant.Victor Matheson, professor of economics at the College of the Holy Cross. RESOURCES:Turf Wars: The Fight for the Soul of America's Game, by DeMaurice Smith (2025)."Is there a Case for Subsidizing Sports Stadiums?" by Victor Matheson (Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 2018). EXTRAS:"America's Hidden Duopoly," by Freakonomics Radio (2018)."Should the U.S. Merge With Mexico?" by Freakonomics Radio (2014). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does it take to build a dominant offensive line, both in the NFL and from the ground up? Go deep into the trenches with one of the toughest and most intelligent players in Cincinnati Bengals history, Bruce Kozerski.   In this exclusive interview on "In the Trenches with Dave Lapham," the former Bengals captain and current championship-winning high school coach delivers a masterclass on the art of offensive line play. Kozerski shares the incredible story of starting the Holy Cross football program from nothing—practicing on a riverbank—and leading them to a State Championship in just 12 years. He breaks down his core philosophy of "five fingers make the fist," the importance of player intelligence, and provides an expert analysis of the current Bengals O-line under new coach Scott Peters.   The "Five Fingers" Philosophy: Kozerski's core principle for building a cohesive and dominant unit.   The Systematic Approach: An inside look at the new techniques and teaching methods being implemented by O-Line Coach Scott Peters.   Breaking Down the Roster: Kozerski's expert analysis of the Bengals' offensive line, from veterans like Orlando Brown Jr. and Ted Karras to rising stars.   From Scratch to State Champs: The unbelievable story of how Kozerski built the Holy Cross football program.   We want to thank Bruce for being a fantastic guest and for joining us today on In the Trenches with Dave Lapham brought to you by First Star Logistics. We also look forward to growing our new central channel, First Star Media Group, and having you fans follow us along the ride. A lot more content is coming soon so definitely hit that subscribe button so you never miss one of our uploads! As always Who Dey!   Want to win great prizes from First Star Logistics during the Bengals season? During the 2025 Cincinnati Bengals season, First Star Logistics will give away some great and unique prizes. Follow @FirstStarLog, @DLInTheTrenches, and @JoeGoodberry for details each week on how you can win.

Julia D'Agostino preaches for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, inviting us to encounter one another with compassion and reminding us that even the smallest faith can reveal God's Reign breaking into our world: "I pray that we all may turn to our neighbor, encounter them, allow our hearts to break, and let the mercy of God work through us. Have faith, even if it be the size of a mustard seed. Because God's Kingdom will come on Earth as it is in Heaven."Julia D'Agostino (she/her) is a theologian drawn to Ignatian spirituality, the stories of women in the church, and the mystery of thin places. After earning a B.A. in English from the College of the Holy Cross, she followed “the God of surprises” into graduate studies at the Boston College Clough School of Theology & Ministry, where she completed both a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology.Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/10052025 to learn more about Julia, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

In his latest teaching episode, Bishop Wack shares an in-depth look at the Congregation of Holy Cross, the religious order that formed him as a priest. He explains the difference between diocesan and religious order priests, details the congregation's founding by Blessed Basil Moreau in France after the French Revolution, and highlights its missionary focus on education and serving people through difficult times.

St. Francis Catholic parish homily preached by Fr. Michael Casey. To learn more: www.stfranciscatholic.org

Fr. Eric reflects on a story about Tim Glemkowski, who served recently as the CEO of the National Eucharistic Congress and was gifted a prophetic word about him and his family that had been given to one of his friends in the context of prayer. This is a clip from a homily that Fr. Eric gave on Sept. 14, 2025 at St. James in Colgan, Ontario on the occasion of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Watch Catholic Latte on YouTube and Facebook. An audio version of the podcast is available also on Spotify, iTunes and Podbean.

In this episode of 'Sader Stories Kevin Gehl sits down with multiple members of the Holy Cross community to discuss the recent partnership between Team IMPACT and Holy Cross.

16 And one of the multitude, answering, said: Master, I have brought my son to thee, having a dumb spirit.Et respondens unus de turba, dixit : Magister, attuli filium meum ad te habentem spiritum mutum : 17 Who, wheresoever he taketh him, dasheth him, and he foameth, and gnasheth with the teeth, and pineth away; and I spoke to thy disciples to cast him out, and they could not.qui ubicumque eum apprehenderit, allidit illum, et spumat, et stridet dentibus, et arescit : et dixi discipulis tuis ut ejicerent illum, et non potuerunt. 18 Who answering them, said: O incredulous generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.Qui respondens eis, dixit : O generatio incredula, quamdiu apud vos ero? quamdiu vos patiar? afferte illum ad me. 19 And they brought him. And when he had seen him, immediately the spirit troubled him; and being thrown down upon the ground, he rolled about foaming.Et attulerunt eum. Et cum vidisset eum, statim spiritus conturbavit illum : et elisus in terram, volutabatur spumans. 20 And he asked his father: How long time is it since this hath happened unto him? But he said: From his infancy:Et interrogavit patrem ejus : Quantum temporis est ex quo ei hoc accidit? At ille ait : Ab infantia : 21 And oftentimes hath he cast him into the fire and into waters to destroy him. But if thou canst do any thing, help us, having compassion on us.et frequenter eum in ignem, et in aquas misit ut eum perderet : sed si quid potes, adjuva nos, misertus nostri. 22 And Jesus saith to him: If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.Jesus autem ait illi : Si potes credere, omnia possibilia sunt credenti. 23 And immediately the father of the boy crying out, with tears said: I do believe, Lord: help my unbelief.Et continuo exclamans pater pueri, cum lacrimis aiebat : Credo, Domine; adjuva incredulitatem meam. 24 And when Jesus saw the multitude running together, he threatened the unclean spirit, saying to him: Deaf and dumb spirit, I command thee, go out of him; and enter not any more into him.Et cum videret Jesus concurrentem turbam, comminatus est spiritui immundo, dicens illi : Surde et mute spiritus, ego praecipio tibi, exi ab eo : et amplius ne introeas in eum. 25 And crying out, and greatly tearing him, he went out of him, and he became as dead, so that many said: He is dead.Et exclamans, et multum discerpens eum, exiit ab eo, et factus est sicut mortuus, ita ut multi dicerent : Quia mortuus est. 26 But Jesus taking him by the hand, lifted him up; and he arose.Jesus autem tenens manum ejus elevavit eum, et surrexit. 27 And when he was come into the house, his disciples secretly asked him: Why could not we cast him out?Et cum introisset in domum, discipuli ejus secreto interrogabant eum : Quare nos non potuimus ejicere eum? 28 And he said to them: This kind can go out by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.Et dixit illis : Hoc genus in nullo potest exire, nisi in oratione et jejunioThe September Ember Days are found in the Roman Missal after the seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. At the present time, they fall always after the third Sunday in September. (Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross). This date nearly coincides with the end of summer, which for the ancients was the 12th of September, and with the opening of autumn on September 13th. The Ember Days of winter, spring and summer do not coincide so exactly with the beginning of the respective seasons. The Blessed Virgin Mary by repeated visions inspired St Peter Nolasco and St Raymond of Pennafort to found with the aid of King James of Aragon the Order of Our Lady of Ransom for the redemption of Christian captives from the infidels. The Church commorates today this incomparable work of charity.

Homily for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross by Fr. Stephen Hamilton.Reading 1 Numbers 21:4b-9Responsorial Psalm Psalm 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38Reading 2 Philippians 2:6-11Gospel John 3:13-17

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross  — How Should Christians Respond? 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Sept. 14, 2025) This weekend, we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The Cross, once a sign of suffering and death, has become for us the ultimate sign of hope: the place where God's love conquered sin and death. In light of recent tragedies, including the heartbreaking shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, how are we as Christians called to respond? With prayer — not as a last resort, but as a powerful act that lifts the suffering to God. Through the sacraments — especially the Eucharist and confession, where Christ's grace enters our broken world. By intentional relationships — reaching out, befriending, and witnessing God's love to those who may feel unseen. With courage as disciples — stepping out of our comfort zones to share the Gospel, even if it feels uncomfortable or seems to make only a small difference. The Cross reminds us that love is stronger than death, and Christ is stronger than violence. Even if it feels like there's just a 1% chance that our words or actions could help someone turn back to God, that 1% is worth it — because eternity is at stake. So we lift high the Cross: proclaiming the love of Christ, living as disciples with conviction, and trusting that God can transform even tragedy into hope.

Epistle Reading: St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.Gospel Reading: Mark 8:34-38; 9:1The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

The Cross is not a symbol. It is a weapon. It is the key that unlocked Heaven, crushed Satan's kingdom, and stands as the central reality of our Catholic faith. In this homily, Fr. Dom dives deep into the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the power of relics, and the meaning of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.Fr. Dom begins with something extraordinary: a documented relic of the True Cross. Not just a piece of history, but a Eucharistic relic, tied directly to the mystery of Christ's Body and Blood. Men, this is not something to treat lightly. As Catholics, we are called to kneel, reverence, and recognize that even the smallest fragment of the Cross carries with it the full power of Christ's victory.From there, we move into the heart of the liturgy. The Mass is not a community gathering. It is not about us. It is the re-presentation of Christ's sacrifice on Calvary. Every altar, every crucifix, every movement of the priest points us back to this truth: the Mass is the Cross made present again in an unbloody way. If you want to know your faith, if you're going to grow as a Catholic man, you must learn the Mass.You will hear how the Old Testament foreshadows the Cross: the bronze serpent lifted in the desert, a sign of healing and freedom for those who look upon it. Just as the Israelites were saved from death by turning to the serpent on the pole, we are saved by looking upon Christ crucified. But to look upon Him requires something of us: repentance, confession, and obedience to the Church He founded.The challenge issued in this episode is simple yet piercing: stop treating the Mass as an obligation and start treating it as the greatest privilege of your life. If you truly knew what was happening, you would run to it. The Cross demands your reverence, your attention, and your sacrifice.Brothers, stop living like Mass is boring. The question is not whether the Mass is alive. The question is whether you are dead inside. Bring your struggles, your marriage, your children, your work, your sin, your hopes—all of it—to the altar. Lay it down. Unite it to the sacrifice of Christ. That is the only way to be the man God has called you to be.3 Powerful Quotes“The key that has unlocked heaven, the weapon that has destroyed Satan's kingdom, the very piece of wood which God's body hung from because He loves us so much.”“The Mass is a re-presentation of the one-time sacrifice of Christ on Calvary in an unbloody, sacramental way.”“Stop asking if the Mass is boring. Ask yourself—what are you putting into it?”#SpiritualWarfare#CatholicMen#MassIsEverything#TrueCross#DefendTheFaith#SaintMichael#ArmorOfGodSend us a text Support the showPlease prayerfully consider supporting the podcast on our Buy Me A Coffee page. to help grow the show to reach as many men as possible! Thank you for your prayers and support. Be sure to follow us on X for more great content. As always, please pray for us! We are men who strive daily to be holy, to become saints and we cannot do that without the help of the Holy Ghost! Subscribe to our YouTube page to see our manly and holy faces Check out our website Contact us at themanlycatholic@gmail.com

On this week's episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we sat down with Nick Lezynski, Linebackers Coach at Vanderbilt University. Coach Lezynski shares his coaching journey, from his playing days at Notre Dame to breaking into the profession at Holy Cross, and eventually reuniting with Clark Lea at Vanderbilt. He also dives into the importance of building strong relationships with players and coaches, and reflects on being named to the 2025 AFCA 35 Under 35 class.

The account of Jonah doesn't end with Nineveh's repentance; the prophet tells us his angry reaction. Jonah despises the LORD's forgiveness for “those people,” and so he despises the LORD. Yet the LORD calls Jonah back. The LORD first appoints a plant to give Jonah shade. Soon, however, the LORD appoints a worm to kill the plant and take away Jonah's shade, and then the LORD appoints an east wind to make Jonah miserable. When Jonah becomes angry over the plant, the LORD points out that Jonah has pity over something that he had not planted or grown. In the book's concluding question, the LORD calls Jonah, and all of us, to consider how great the LORD's compassion is for all people and all His creatures, whom He loves in His Son Jesus Christ.  Rev. James Helms, Jr., pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Greenbelt, MD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jonah 4:1-11.  To learn more about Holy Cross, visit myholycross.com. “Majoring in the Minors” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the books of Hosea, Joel, Jonah, Micah, and Nahum. Although the books of these prophets are shorter, the Word of God they preached was important in the years leading up to the coming of the Christ, and that Word remains important for the Church today. Just as we still need to listen to their call to repentance over our idolatry, so we still need to heed their call to trust in the Savior, Jesus.  Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross celebrates the return of the Cross through the efforts of the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius against the Persians. However, only when Heraclius humbled himself by removing his royal raiment was he able to bring the Cross back into Jerusalem. At the same time, this feast reminds us of the cruciform structure of many churches, the present of crosses throughout, and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

The screenwriters Brian Gunn and Mark Gunn are cousins, and they grew up in the 1970s and '80s in a big Catholic extended family in St. Louis. The Gunns are an incredibly creative clan that has produced all sorts of actors and writers and directors, including Brian's brother James, who you might know as the director of the most recent “Superman” movie and the “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise. Brian and Mark are both Jesuit educated twice over, alumni of St. Louis University High School and the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was during college that they started performing sketch comedy together, and they both moved to Los Angeles in the '90s to pursue Hollywood dreams. Since then, Brian and Mark have worked together on films and TV shows, including the family adventure movie “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and a 2019 superhero horror film called “Brightburn” featuring Elizabeth Banks. Their first project that made it big was a movie and series called “2gether,” which debuted on MTV in 2000. It was a hilarious parody of the boy band era of Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC and it was influential on the development of AMDG host Mike Jordan Laskey's sense of humor. The actors playing the boy band became an actual boy band themselves, opening for Britney Spears and hitting the Billboard charts with two different albums. If you are an elder millennial, all we have to say is, “I know my calculus,” and you'll sing back: “You plus me equals us.” Mike asked Brian and Mark about their family and their Jesuit education, how they work together as a writing team, and what it's like to work in the film industry. Mark and Brian also shared some creative tips they've learned in more than a quarter century in the trade. Finally, Mike couldn't let them go without reminiscing about “2gether” and marveling at the fact that 25 years after the movie's debut, the most popular film in the world right now is another movie about a fictional boy band. Though this new one is composed of demons and they're being hunted by a KPop girl group... Anyway, we think you'll enjoy this sneak peek into the lives of Hollywood screenwriters. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Preacher: Pastor Adam SteinbrennerSubmit sermon questions by emailing podcast@stjohndublin.orgLink to SermonChurch Website: stjohndublin.orgChurch Center: stjohndublin.churchcenter.comThank you to Higher Things Inc. for permission to use their recording of LSB 834 “O God, O Lord of Heaven and Earth”. (leader.higherthings.org)Thank you for listening to the Post-Sermon Podcast.Text Your Questions & Comments Here!

Suffering unites the sufferer with Jesus Christ and His Cross, which itself was meant to be saving and redeeming for all and helps us to be more sympathetic toward others who are suffering. Join us for Open Line Tuesday with Fr. Wade Menezes.

Are you living for something that is worth the cost of your life?

Officiant: Mtr. Lisa Meirow, Psalm(s): Psalm 66, Fr. Wiley Ammons, Old Testament: Numbers 21:4-9, The Rev. Meghan Ryan, First Canticle: 16, Second Canticle: 21, Gospel: John 3:11-17, Mtr. Lisa Meirow. Logo image by Antonio Allegretti, used by permission.

The Vatican honors martyrs from the 21st century on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Meanwhile, prayer vigils are being held across the U.S. in memory of Charlie Kirk.

Officiant: Fr. Wiley Ammons, Psalm(s): Psalm 118, Fr. Wiley Ammons, Old Testament: Genesis 3:1-15, Gia Hayes-Martin, First Canticle: 15, New Testament: 1 Peter 3:17-22, Fr. Andrew Armond, Second Canticle: 17. Logo image by Laura Ammons, used by permission.

Friends of the Rosary,Today, September 15, the day after the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. The timing of the memorial invites reflection on the inseparable connection between Jesus's sacrifice and Mary's compassionate suffering.This commemoration, which dates back to the 12th century, focuses on her "Seven Sorrows" in her life, providing an example for believers to find strength and hope in their own times of suffering.The feast is dedicated to the spiritual martyrdom of Mary and her intense suffering during the passion and death of Christ, particularly as she stood at the foot of the Cross of her Son.In her suffering as co-redeemer, Mary reminds us of the evil of sin and shows us the way of true repentance.Mary suffered seven dolors, or sorrows, like seven swords that pierced her Heart.The prophecy of Simeon, (Luke 2:25-35)The flight into Egypt, (Matthew 2:13-15)Loss of the Child Jesus for three days, (Luke 2:41-50) Mary meets Jesus on his way to Calvary, (Luke 23:27-31; John 19:17)Crucifixion and Death of Jesus, (John 19:25-30)The body of Jesus being taken from the Cross (deposition from the Cross), (Psalm 130; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-37)The burial of Jesus, (Isaiah 53:8; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42; Mark 15:40-47)September is traditionally dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows.Ave Maria!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New York• ⁠September 15, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

Support the Seminary: https://mostholytrinityseminary.org/donate/

Given on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, occurring on the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost.

On this episode of The Bluebloods, Zach McKinnell and Timothy Rosario from FCS Football Central recap all the FCS football action from Week 3. The duo discusses Montana's thrilling comeback win over North Dakota, another statement win by West Georgia, Tarleton State's dominant victory over Central Arkansas, the defensive slugfest between Rhode Island and Holy Cross, and South Dakota's escape from an upset bid against Northern Colorado. All this & more right here on The Bluebloods! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Msgr. Esseff reflects on the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. He describes in detail the true horror of this means of execution and what it meant to be crucified in the time of Jesus. But he also talks about the great love that God has for us in embracing the Cross for our sake and what it means for us today. A very powerful reflection. The post Exaltation of the Holy Cross – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In the midst of several recent high profile murders we gaze at the Cross of Christ, whose triumph inspires us to humbly engage one another with charity. (Lectionary #638) September 13, 2025 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com  

The gospel story of the cross says this: Because of God's love the Son of God came into the world, and despite his actions of love, healing, and mercy, the Son of God was ultimately rejected, condemned, and crucified by a sinful world built upon violent power. And yet, in that moment, when the world did its very worst, the Crucified One was not condemning the world, but saving the world.

Originally aired on September 14, 2014. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mass Readings for The Exaltation of the Holy Cross - Sunday September 14, 2025 Reading 1, Numbers 21:4-9 Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 78:1-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38 Reading 2, Philippians 2:6-11 Gospel, John 3:13-17

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a Catholic Feast day that brings due attention to the Holy Cross on which our Lord and Savior achieved our reconciliation with the Father. In this Feast, we gaze upon the Cross less as an instrument of suffering and torture (while this is still certainly true), but more on the healing and reconciliation it brings.

Homily from the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy CrossThe sign of our shame has become the symbol of our hope. The Cross of Jesus is God's answer to our guilt. The Cross of Jesus is God's answer to our lack of trust. The Cross of Jesus is God's answer to evil. Mass Readings from September 14, 2025:Numbers 21:4b-9Psalm 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38Philippians 2:6-11 John 3:13-17

Read OnlineFor God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.  John 3:16–17If Jesus would never have given His life on a cross for the salvation of the world, then a cross would never have been seen in “exultation.” A cross, in and of itself, is an instrument of death, a horrific and violent death. It's also an instrument of humiliation and torture. Yet, today, the Cross is seen as a holy and blessed object. We hang crosses in our homes, wear them around our neck, keep them in our pocket on the end of the rosary, and spend time in prayer before them. The Cross is now an exalted image by which we turn to God in prayer and surrender. But that is only the case because it was on a cross that we were saved and brought to eternal life.If you step back and consider the amazing truth that one of the worst instruments of torture and death is now seen as one of the holiest of images on earth, it should be awe inspiring. Comprehending this fact should lead us to the realization that God can do anything and everything. God can use the worst and transform it into the best. He can use death to bring forth life. Though our celebration today, the “Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross,” is first and foremost a feast by which we give glory to the Father for what He did in the Person of His divine Son, it is also a feast by which we must humbly understand that God can “exalt” every cross we endure in life and bring forth much grace through them. What is your heaviest cross? What is the source of your greatest suffering? Most likely, as you call this to mind, it is painful to you. Most often, our crosses and sufferings are things we seek to rid ourselves of. We easily point to crosses in life and blame them for a lack of happiness. We can easily think that if only this or that were to change or be removed, then our life would be better. So what is that cross in your life? The truth is that whatever your heaviest cross is, there is extraordinary potential for that cross to become an actual source of grace in your life and in the world. But this is only possible if you embrace that cross in faith and hope so that our Lord can unite it to His and so that your crosses can also share in the exaltation of Christ's Cross. Though this is a profoundly deep mystery of faith, it is also a profoundly deep truth of our faith. Reflect, today, upon your own crosses. As you do, try not to see them as a burden. Instead, realize the potential within those crosses. Prayerfully look at your crosses as invitations to share in Christ's Cross. Say “Yes” to your crosses. Choose them freely. Unite them to Christ's Cross. As you do, have hope that God's glory will come forth in your life and in the world through your free embrace of them. Know that these “burdens” will be transformed and become a source of exaltation in your life by the transforming power of God. My exalted Lord, I turn to You in my need and with the utmost faith in Your divine power to save. Please give me the grace I need to fully embrace every cross in my life with hope and faith in You. Please transform my crosses so that You will be exalted through them and so that they will become an instrument of Your glory and grace. Jesus, I trust in You.Image via UnsplashSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Psalm 110:1-5,7 Psalm 116:10-19 Revelation 4:11;5:9,10,12 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 Prayer Requests to psp@sqpn.com

Psalm 95 Prayer Requests to psp@sqpn.com

Psalm 2 Psalm 8 Psalm 96 Galatians 2:19–3:7,13-14;6:14-16 Prayer Requests to psp@sqpn.com

Psalm 63:2-9 Daniel 3:57-88,56 Psalm 149 Hebrews 2:9-10 Prayer Requests to psp@sqpn.com

Psalm 23 Psalm 76 Ephesians 1:7-8 Prayer Requests to psp@sqpn.com

Psalm 147 Philippians 2:6-11 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 Prayer Requests to psp@sqpn.com

Friends, this year, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross falls on a Sunday, so we have the great privilege of reflecting a bit more deeply on this marvelous and, frankly, disconcerting and odd feast. The Roman cross was a horrific, terrifying symbol of tyrannical power. And yet the first Christians emerge exalting the cross of Jesus. They don't hide it or pretend he died some other way; on the contrary, Saint Paul says, “I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” How do we begin to explain this?