The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

September 14th has for centuries been observed as a Feast Day named The Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Various historical circumstances and fascinating legends accompany this date, which could in some way be incorporated, with appropriate care, into a meditation or sermon (e.g. here and here), but certainly we can take this opportunity to extol the cross of Christ our Lord and its tremendous value to us.

"The Royal Banners Forward Go" (TLH #168) 

The royal banners forward go;

The cross shines forth in mystic glow

Where He in flesh, our flesh who made,

Our sentence bore, our ransom paid;

Where deep for us the spear was dyed,

Life's torrent rushing from His side,

To wash us in that precious flood

Where mingled water flowed and blood.,

Fulfilled is all that David told

In true prophetic song of old;

Amidst the nations, God, saith he,

Hath reigned and triumphed from the Tree.

O Tree of beauty, Tree of light,

O Tree with royal purple dight;

Elect, on whose triumphal breast

Those holy limbs should find their rest;

On whose dear arms, so widely flung,

The weight of this world's ransom hung

The price of humankind to pay

And spoil the spoiler of his prey.

O Cross, our one reliance, hail!

So may thy power with us avail

To give new virtue to the saint

And pardon to the penitent.

To Thee, eternal Three in One,

Let homage meet by all be done

Whom by the cross  Thou dost restore,

Preserve, and govern evermore.