Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord,

Today is a day of great exultation and festal delight, for the precious and life-giving Cross of our Lord is lifted up in the midst of the Church. We rejoice because the symbol of life, hope, and victory is before us. The wood that once bore our Savior has become for us the Tree of Life, leading us not into exile like the tree of Eden, but into paradise itself.

This Cross, upon which Christ mounted like a King on His chariot, is the sign of His triumph. On it, He destroyed the power of death, shattered the dominion of the evil one, and healed the wounds of our sins. Upon this wood, His blood was spilled, endowing the Cross with invincible power: a power that illumines the world and burns away the darkness.

And so, the whole creation rejoices with us on this day: the angels and saints, the prophets and martyrs, the sun, the moon, and the stars. All of heaven and earth exult, for the Cross has become the boast of the apostles, the crown of the martyrs, and the refuge of every Christian soul.

Saint Paul reminds us, “Far be it from me to boast, except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” The Cross is our boast, our joy, our shield, and our salvation. It is the sign with which we mark ourselves each day, the sign that disperses fear, brings peace, and leads us safely toward the Kingdom of God.

Beloved, as we celebrate this radiant feast, let us not only venerate the Cross with our lips and our hearts, but also carry it with our lives. To take up the Cross is to live with love, with sacrifice, and with hope in the Resurrection.

On this feast, I also ask that we turn our attention to Hellenic College Holy Cross, the sacred school of our Archdiocese, in Brookline, Massachusetts. Here, our future priests are being prepared to serve Christ and His Church. Here, young men and women are formed in faith and knowledge, so that they may serve our communities with devotion.

If we truly boast in the Cross, then we must also support the school that forms those who will preach the message of the Cross to generations yet to come. There are many concrete ways you can help:

• Pray daily for the students, faculty, and staff of Hellenic College Holy Cross—that the Lord strengthen them in their calling.
• Encourage young people in your parish to consider studying there, whether to pursue the priesthood or to serve the Church in other ministries, or participate in the Semester of Faith.
• Give generously to our school so that no one who desires to serve Christ is held back by financial burden.
• Most importantly, stay connected by visiting the school, follow its progress, invite  students to your parishes when possible, and make them feel supported by the whole Church.

Beloved in Christ, the Cross is our life, our strength, and our hope. By supporting Hellenic College Holy Cross, we ensure that this life-giving message continues to be proclaimed with faith and courage to the ends of the earth.

May the precious and life-giving Cross be our boast and our strength today and always. And may it guide us to the joy of the Resurrection and eternal life.

God bless you!