On September 14th, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross—a day that reminds us of the central mystery of our faith: that through the Cross came our salvation. In this episode, we look at the history of this feast, from the discovery of the True Cross by St. Helena to the dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and why the Cross is not a symbol of defeat but of victory, hope, and love.

We’ll also talk about simple, meaningful ways we can observe this day in our homes and families—whether by venerating the Cross, praying the Stations, or simply taking time to reflect on how the Cross is present in our own daily lives.

(I forgot to mention in the show that we also celebrate this feast day by eating something with Basil, like pesto; and also make strawberry basil lemonade. It is believed that basil was growing in the place where St Helena discovered the cross. See the connection?! Living LIT with food is always a fun connection!)

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross invites us to look up, to lift our eyes and hearts, and to remember that every cross we carry can be transformed when united with Christ.

**Robyn on Instagram (@Robynlivinglit) to see how we celebrate and Live LIT: https://www.instagram.com/robynlivinglit/

Offer It Up: Finding Hope in Suffering with Megan Hjelmstad is a great podcast on living with and uniting our daily crosses and sufferings with Christ. How to flourish by cooperating with our Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5KyLl5zra4&list=PLqSqcaJSjAjbntIdwue-lafCDC3rX9hfH&index=3