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The Exaltation of the Holy Cross | pre-1955 Missal | Traditional Latin Mass Readings | 9/14/2026 · Vox Liturgica

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  Vox Liturgica: The propers of the day according to the Roman Missal before 1955. The Exaltation of the Holy Cross, September 14 in the year of our Lord 2026. Of today's feast, Dom Gaspar Lefevre writes the following. On September 14 in 335 took place the dedication of Constantine's Basilica which enclosure contained both Calvary and the holy sepulchre. At this date, says Etheria, the cross was discovered, and the anniversary is celebrated with as much solemnity as Easter or the Epiphany.
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  Such was the origin of the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. When I shall be raised on high, I shall draw everything unto me. Jesus has said in the gospel. It is because the Savior humbled himself, as Saint Paul says in the epistle, being obedient even to the death of the cross, that God exalted him and gave him a name above all other names. Wherefore, as the introit proclaims, we must glory in the cross of Jesus for he is our life and our salvation.
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  And as the mass says elsewhere, he protects his servants against the wiles of their enemies. Towards the end of the reign of Phocas, Chosros, king of Persia, says the legend of the Breviary, took Jerusalem where he put to death several thousand Christians and carried off to Persia the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, which Helen had deposited on Mount Calvary. Heraclius, the successor of Phocus, had recourse to many fasts and prayers, imploring with great fervor the help of God. He assembled an army and defeated Chosros. He then insisted on the restitution of the cross of the Lord.
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  Thus was recovered the precious relic after an interval of fourteen years. On his return to Jerusalem, Heraclius carried it on his shoulders in great pomp to the mountain where the savior himself had borne it. An extraordinary miracle marked the occasion. Heraclius, who was loaded with ornaments of gold and precious stones, was held back by an invincible force at the entrance gate of Mount Calvary. In vain were his efforts to enter.
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  As the emperor and all those who witnessed the scene were astounded, Zacharias, Bishop of Jerusalem, said to him, consider, O Emperor, that with these triumphal ornaments, you are far from imitating the poverty of Jesus Christ and his humility in bearing his cross. Heraclius thereupon doffed his splendid garb and walked barefooted with a common cloak on his shoulders to Calvary where he again deposited the cross. The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on the original spot, the anniversary of which was celebrated on this day, became of great importance. Let us join in spirit the faithful who in the Church of the Holy Cross at Rome venerate on this day the relics of the sacred wood exposed for the occasion and pray as we do in the collect and the secret that having been privileged to adore it on this feast when we rejoice for its exaltation, we may likewise possess for all eternity the salvation and glory the cross has won for us. In the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy ghost.
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  Amen. The introit. It is for us to make our boast in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, our life, our resurrection, by whom we are saved and set free. May God be merciful to us and bless us. May he smile graciously upon us and show us his mercy.
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  Glory be to the father and to the son and to the holy ghost as it was in the beginning is now and will be through all ages of ages. Amen. It is for us to make our boast in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ in whom is our salvation, our life, our resurrection by whom we are saved and set free. The Collect, let us pray. O God, who on this day doth gladden us by the yearly feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we pray thee grant that we who have known its mystery on earth may be found worthy to enjoy in heaven the bliss it has purchased for us through the same Jesus Christ, thy son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God through all ages of ages.
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  Amen. A lesson from the letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Philippians. Brethren, yours is to be the same mind which Jesus Christ showed. His nature is from the first divine, and yet he did not see in the rank of Godhead a prize to be coveted. He dispossessed himself and took the nature of a slave fashioned in the likeness of men and presenting himself to us in human form.
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  And then he lowered his own dignity, accepted in obedience which brought him to death, death on a cross. That is why God has raised him to such a height, given him that name which is greater than any other name. So that everything in heaven and on earth and under the earth must bend the knee before the name of Jesus and every tongue must confess Jesus Christ as Lord, dwelling in the glory of God the Father. The gradual. Christ accepted an obedience that brought him to death.
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  Death on a cross. That is why God has raised him to such a height. Given him that name which is above all other names. Alleluia. Alleluia.
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  Dear the nails and dear the timber, dear the load they hold aloft, none other might fitly bear the lord and king of heaven. Alleluia. A continuation of the holy gospel according to John. At that time Jesus told the Jewish crowd, sentence is now being passed on this world. Now is the time when the prince of this world is to be cast out.
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  Yes. If only I am lifted up from the earth, I will attract all men to myself. In saying this, he prophesied the death he was to die. The multitude answered him, we have been told out of the law that Christ is to remain undisturbed forever. What does thou mean by saying that the son of man must be lifted up?
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  What son of man is this? And Jesus said to them, the light is among you still but only for a short time. Finish your journey while you still have the light for fear darkness should overtake you. He who journeys in darkness cannot tell which way he is going. While you still have the light, have faith in the light so that you may become children of the light.
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  The Offeratory. With the sign of the Holy Cross protect thy people, Lord, from all the snares of all their enemies. Look with favor upon the service we offer thee and accept our sacrifice. Hallelujah. The secret.
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  O Lord our God, as we prepare to feast upon the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the standard of the cross was hallowed, we pray that we whose privilege it is to venerate that holy symbol may possess through all eternity the salvation its triumph has won through the same Jesus Christ, thy son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God through all ages of ages. Amen. The Preface of the Holy Cross. It is truly meet and just, right and availing unto salvation, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, everlasting God. You placed the salvation of mankind upon the tree of the cross, so that where came death, there also life might rise again.
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  And that he who conquered by a tree might also be conquered on a tree through Christ our Lord. Through whom the angels praise thy majesty, the dominions worship it, and the powers stand in awe. The heavens and the heavenly hosts and the blessed Seraphim join together in celebrating their joy. With these we pray thee join our voices also while we say with lowly praise. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts.
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  The heavens and the earth are full of thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. The communion.
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  By the sign of the cross, deliver us from our enemies, o thou our God. The post communion. Let us pray. Stand by us, o Lord our God, and with the unfailing support of the Holy Cross, uphold us whom thou makest rejoice to do it honor through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy son, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God through all ages of ages. Amen.
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  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Hail true cross of beauty rarest, king of all the forest trees, leaf and flower and fruit thou barest, medicine for a world's disease, fairest wood and iron fairest, yet more fair who hung on these.