Exaltation of the Holy Cross

The following extract from a reflection on today's feast by Fr. Enzo Del Brocco CP has an important message for all Christians, but has particular relevance for us as Vincentians. You can read the full reflection here on the Catholic Theological Union web page:
https://learn.ctu.edu/feast-of-the-exaltation-of-the-holy-cross/

There is a danger… in how we relate to the Cross. We see it in the temptation of Christian nationalism, where the Cross is used as a banner of power, identity, or exclusion. But the Cross is never a flag to wave over others. It is not a weapon to dominate, nor a tool to draw boundaries of “us” against “them.” Whenever Christians do this, we betray the very One who died on the Cross for all.

Instead, Christianity is called to be like leaven in society—quiet, small, but powerful enough to transform the whole dough. The Cross heals like the serpent in the desert: not by striking down enemies, but by drawing the gaze of the wounded and giving them life. In our world poisoned by division, violence, nationalism, and fear, the Cross offers an antidote: reconciliation, compassion, forgiveness.

To lift high the Cross today means: standing with the wounded: with refugees, the poor, the sick, the excluded; healing with mercy: countering the poison of hatred and lies with truth spoken in love; witnessing hope: refusing to let fear or ideology replace the Gospel of self-giving love.

Brothers and sisters, the Cross is not a symbol of conquest, but of healing. Not a mark of domination, but of love stronger than death. To exalt the Cross is to make visible Christ’s mercy in a broken world.

Let us lift high the Cross, not by imposing it, but by embodying it: healing wounds, building peace, forgiving enemies, and proclaiming by our lives that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. Amen.

You can read the full reflection here on the Catholic Theological Union web page:
https://learn.ctu.edu/feast-of-the-exaltation-of-the-holy-cross/

Blessed Frederic Ozanam - September 9

 

Gospel Principles in Bl. Frederic Ozanam's Life

Service to the Poor:
Ozanam's primary mission was to serve the poor and oppressed, mirroring Jesus' teachings in the Gospels. He believed that caring for the poor was a direct expression of faith in God.

Justice for the Needy:
He advocated for the rights of the poor and the working class, founding a newspaper to secure justice for them.

Embodiment of Christ's Charity:
Ozanam's followers, known as Vincentians, visited and assisted the poor in their homes, encountering Christ through these relationships.

His Legacy - Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP):
He co-founded this global charitable organization to put the Gospel into action through works of mercy, becoming one of the largest church institutions in the world.

In Summary
Blessed Frederic Ozanam lived the Gospel by actively seeking out the poor, working for their justice, and forming a movement to do the same. He is celebrated as a saintly figure whose life served as a powerful example of applying Christ's message of love and compassion.

Coming National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

 

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will be on September 30. That makes September a good month for Canadians to learn more about this important day and the significance of reconciliation in Canada.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada's final report and 94 Calls to Action. The TRC was established to document the history and impact of residential schools and to promote reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. While progress has been made, many of the Calls to Action remain unfulfilled, highlighting the ongoing work needed for true reconciliation.

Here are some resources as recommended by Indspire, a national Indigenous registered charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people for the long term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada.

Visit Canadian Heritage’s site for information on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.  Tune in to All My Relations, a podcast that explores Indigenous identity and relationships with land, place, nation, non-human relatives, and one another.  Enroll in Indigenous Canada, a free course offered by the University of Alberta that explores Indigenous histories and issues in Canada.  Watch Bringing Our Children Home: Reflecting On Our Shared History, a video series hosted by Reconciliation Canada. Learn from expert panellists as they examine reconciliation in Canada and explore ideas that are shaping the future of our country.

Statement on Gaza by Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

The members of the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) have issued a statement in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The statement calls attention to the suffering population of Gaza, particularly children and the elderly, whose lives continue to be endangered due to the ongoing violence and severe deprivation, as well as to the mounting casualties on all sides. The members of the Permanent Council echo Pope Leo XIV’s recent statements about the war and they remind the faithful in Canada to fast and pray for lasting peace in the Holy Land.

Read the published statement here: https://www.cccb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025-08-25-Statement-by-the-Permanent-Council-Humanitarian-Crisis-in-Gaza.pdf

Following the terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas on 7 October 2023, the Holy Land has been in the grip of a devastating war. International concern about the ever deteriorating situation in Gaza has been heightened with the latest reports from the United Nations, that civilians there are on the brink of starvation, while they continue to be exposed to violence and death, with children and the elderly being most at risk.

The loss of human life since the October 7th attack has been tremendous, particularly among Palestinians (both Muslims and Christians). Less than a month ago, Holy Family Church in Gaza City, which had been sheltering children and the wounded, fell victim to a military strike, killing three and seriously injuring several others, for which the Israeli army has acknowledged responsibility and the Israeli government has apologized for the loss of innocent human life.

Pope Leo XIV has recently stated, with profound concern, that the “dire humanitarian situation in Gaza” and the “barbarism of war” causing it must be ended immediately.(1) He has advocated for the provision of humanitarian aid to the stricken civilian population as well as the release of hostages and detainees on both sides.(2) The Holy Father has appealed to the international community “to observe humanitarian law and to respect the obligation to protect civilians, as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force and the forced displacement of the population” in Gaza.(3) He has reiterated his call for a ceasefire and a resolution that will bring lasting peace.(4)

While the situation in the Holy Land is complex and every human solution has its limitations, the power of prayer should never be underestimated. Praying and fasting for peace in the Holy Land is both urgent and necessary at this time; it is something to which all the Catholic faithful in Canada should feel called to do, prompted by the loss of life on all sides and knowing that God desires peace.

As Christians express their concern about the catastrophic impact this war is having on the civilian population in Gaza, they also do well to pray for and promote respect toward the Jewish People, particularly in the face of the rise in anti-Semitism.

May God, rich in mercy, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, patroness of the Holy Land and Queen of Peace, touch the hearts of all the inhabitants of the Holy Land – Jews, Muslims, and Christians – so that they may open themselves to forgiveness and justice, and live peacefully together as brothers and sisters united by their common humanity.

25 August 2025

1 Pope Leo XIV, Comments after Angelus Message, Sunday, 20 July 2025.
2 Pope Leo XIV, Comments after Regina Cæli Message, Sunday, 11 May 2025.
3 Pope Leo XIV, Comments after Angelus Message, Sunday, 20 July 2025.
4 Pope Leo XIV, Comments after Angelus Message, Sunday, 27 July 2025.