A Blessed Holy Cross Day today!

Today is the Feast of the Holy Cross. It was on this day that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem was dedicated, built over the place of our Lord's Crucifixion (Golgotha) and the place of his Resurrection (the empty tomb). The Church was built under the direction of Roman Emperor Constantine's mother, St. Helena.

More importantly, it is a wonderful reminder that it was on the hard wood of the Cross that we have had the price of our sins paid by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

Here is an ancient hymn (#66 in our hymnal) to sum up the glory of that Holy Cross.

Faithful Cross, above all other,
one and only noble Tree,
none in foliage, none in blossom,
none in fruit thy peer may be;
sweetest wood, and sweetest iron,
Sweetest weight is hung on thee.

Bend thy boughs, O tree of glory,
thy relaxing sinews bend;
for awhile the ancient rigor,
that thy birth bestowed, suspend;
And the King of heavenly beauty
On thy bosom gently tend.

Thou alone wast counted worthy
this world's Ransom to sustain,
that a shipwrecked race for ever
might a port of refuge gain,
with the sacred Blood anointed
of the Lamb for sinners slain.