“You Are My Strength”: St. Josemaria’s Devotion to the Holy Cross

“To find the Cross is to find Christ.”
ST. JOSEMARIA ESCRIVA
The Forge, no. 779

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The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross has ancient roots in the Church, dating back to the 4th century. According to early Christian accounts, such as those of the pilgrim Egeria, once the relic of the True Cross was discovered, its public veneration, or “exaltation,” became central to the celebration. By the 7th century, this practice had spread to the Western Church with Pope Sergius I instituting the custom of venerating a fragment of the True Cross on September 14th in Rome. For St. Josemaria Escriva, however, honoring the Holy Cross was not limited to a single feast day. He believed that to be truly transformed by Christ’s Passion, Christians should constantly identify with Christ’s suffering and unite their own trials with his. St. Josemaria, who carried a reliquary containing a fragment of the True Cross, lived this devotion daily, encouraging others to embrace the Cross in their daily lives.

1. Relying on the Cross for Strength

St. Josemaria often urged people to keep a crucifix near them, whether on their desk or in their pocket, as a constant source of strength. He encouraged this devotion with the reminder: “Your Crucifix. — As a Christian, you should always carry your Crucifix with you. And place it on your desk. And kiss it before going to bed and when you wake up: and when your poor body rebels against your soul, kiss it again” (The Way, no. 302).

2. Accompanying Our Lord

Praying the Stations of the Cross every Friday, especially during Lent, was a practice that St. Josemaria recommended to those around him. He believed that meditating on Christ’s Passion was a way of uniting oneself with his suffering, which gives meaning and redemptive value to our own struggles. He stated, “Only if we unite ourselves continually to the Passion of Jesus Christ, will we be able to be useful instruments on earth, even though we are full of wretchedness” (Saint Josemaria’s Devotion to the Holy Cross).

3. Finding Consolation in the Cross

Devotion to the Cross must go beyond outward practices and embrace a genuine inner commitment to unite with Christ in his suffering. St. Josemaria consistently emphasized this in his writings, urging believers to internalize the meaning of the Cross. His teachings remind us that true devotion is not just about visible expressions of faith but about transforming our suffering into opportunities to grow closer to Christ. This message is clearly articulated when he wrote, “Lord, I have no qualms in repeating this thousands of times: I want to keep you company, suffering with you, in the humiliations and cruelties of your Passion and Cross” (The Forge, no. 778).

For St. Josemaria, the Cross was an invitation to unite one’s struggles with Christ’s sacrifice. He saw the Cross as a source of strength and grace, as an invitation for Christians to embrace their challenges with love and purpose. Through his writings, St. Josemaria emphasized that the Cross transforms ordinary moments into opportunities for sanctity, making it a central part of Christian life and devotion. “Remember this at the moment of sorrow or expiation: the Cross is the symbol of the redeeming Christ. It has ceased to be the symbol of evil, becoming instead the sign of victory” (The Forge, no. 782).