The Feast of the Holy Cross

Today is the feast of the Holy Cross.  The Feast of the Holy Cross can be traced back to the year 335 A.D. when St. Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine, made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land where she spent large sums on the relief of the poor and on building churches on sacred sites. She is particularly associated with the discovery at Jerusalem, near the probable site of Calvary, of a wooden cross that she believed was the actual cross on which Jesus was crucified. On that place today is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

The cross is the universal symbol of Christianity. We make the sign of the cross when we pray, when we enter a church using holy water, at the liturgy, and countless other times. The Christian custom of tracing the sign of the cross on persons and things as a sign of blessing goes back to the very origins of Christianity.

But what does it mean? The cross is the personal mark of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we mark it on ourselves as a sign that we belong to him. It is, therefore, a mark of discipleship; a confession of faith in Jesus crucified and risen; a renewal of our baptismal vows; an acceptance of suffering; an abandonment of the self, and a mark of blessing which makes the ordinary things of life sacred.

So the next time that you make the sign of the cross, keep in mind what it means.

Let us pray:  Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ was lifted high upon the cross that he might draw the whole world to himself: Mercifully grant that we, who glory in the mystery of our redemption, may have grace to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

The Lord’s Prayer Study begins this Sunday at 11:15 a.m. (to give time for the Bishop’s Committee Meeting; thereafter, we will start at 11:00 a.m.).  Materials will be available. Please come and join this study and grow in your faith.

Our regularly scheduled Bishop’s Committee Meeting is this Sunday starting immediately after the Eucharist.  Items on the agenda will include: (1) Biehl Community Garden update; (2) Sutton Hall use update; (3) financial report; (4) the Bell Tower historical space; (5) update on pest control; (6) update on hiring culinary students from Galveston College for Sunday breakfasts; and (7) status of obtaining internet for the Church.  I invite everyone to participate in the decision making of our faith community.

Art Show begins Saturday, 22 September with a reception at 6:00 p.m.

St. Vincent’s Day celebration on 29 September with Eucharist at 10:00 a.m.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Patricia, Fred, Mary and Spurgeon.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550