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Rosary Workshop - Rome Pilgrimage
RELICS of
the PASSION
SANTA CROCE
in GERUSALEMME
The Relics of
the crucifixion of Jesus were brought back from Jerusalem by St Helena,
mother of the first Christian Emperor of Rome in the early part of the
4th Century. By tradition the first building to house the relics
of the Passion was on the property where she lived. The floor was packed
with earth from Jerusalem which gave it its name.
HOLY CROSS
- FRAGMENTS - SMALL
RELIQUARY
READINGS
- HISTORY
Photos were taken on a Pentecost Pilgrimage to Rome in 1998. Missing for 4 years, they were found today, on this, the feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross - September 14, 2002
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THE RELICS OF THE PASSION
~ HOLY CROSS at JERUSALEM ~
OF JESUS CHRIST
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HOLY CROSS |
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"Christ opened his arms on the Cross to embrace
the whole World, because
Golgotha stood at the centre of the World" - (St.
Cyril)
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+ It is unknown if there were 3 or 4 nails used in the crucifixion of Jesus. Early images show 3 nails. 13c artists began to show 4. One may have been used in the bridle of Constantine's horse as he went into battle, while another was possibly used in either a helmet or crown. Another tradition states that one of the nails was tossed/dipped into the Adriatic sea to calm a storm. + There is no scripture stating the actual 'nailing' of Christ to the cross. The term 'Crucifixion' suggests this. It was the standard punishment of the times. + |
+ Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, "Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews." + Now many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that he said, 'I am the King of the Jews.'" Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written." (Jn 19:22) + |
Christ humbled himself, becoming obedient to death,
even death on a cross. (cf.Phil 2:8)
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The cross, instrument of torture and death, raised
aloft as a sign of glory, continues to confound the wisdom of this world.
God's word of salvation stands human expectations on their head: humility
is exaltation, wounds are healing, death is life.
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+ And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, ... and they came to him and said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Once more Pilate went out and said to them, "Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him." So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And he said to them, "Behold, the man!" (Jn 19:4-5) + |
+ Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked ... Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." + Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" (Jn 20:26-28) + |
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Behold the wood of the cross, on which has hung
our salvation: come, let us adore!
(cf Veneration of the Cross/Good Friday)
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May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to
the world. (Gal 6:14)
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RELIQUARY CRUCIFIXES
~ CRUCIFIX RELIQUARY ~
MOVE BEFORE ITS WEARER
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+ Small splinters from the Vatican fragment of the Holy Cross have been set into wearable crucifix reliquaries. Each has been placed into a small metal cross, then wrapped with red threads. The threads were secured with a red wax seal of the Vatican to authenticate the relic. It was then set into a larger Reliquary Cross. These relics were then made available to bishops, cardinals, priests and laity. This created an embracing cross, scattered throughout the world so that it may be venerated by all. + Tradition says that when Christ returns, these tiny splinters of wood will converge into its original position and the Holy Cross of Jesus will again be complete. + |
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ex ligneo - (from the wood) - crucis (the cross) - Domini Nostri Jesu Christi - (our Lord, Jesus Christ) |
Red strings secure relic and are intact. It is sealed with wax, protecting the integrity & validity of the authentication of the relic. |
HOW MANY SLIVERS IN THE TRUE CROSS?
We have often wondered, and maybe you have too - if all
the known slivers of wood claimed to be part of the true cross were put
together today, how large of a cross would it make? French architect
Charles Rohault de Fleury, who was also involved in religious archaeology,
wrote a magnificent book, "Les instruments de la Passion", Paris, 1870.
He measured all existing relics known and those that have long been lost.
He discovered that if indeed they were all put together they would only
fill one third of the original and true cross.
~ READINGS ~
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to make music
to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your
truth in the watches of the night, on the ten-stringed lyre and the lute,
with the murmuring sound of the harp.
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Your deeds O Lord, have made me glad; for the work
of your hands I shout with joy. O Lord, how great are your works!
How deep are your designs! The foolish man cannot know this and the
fool cannot understand. But you, Lord, are eternally on high. (Psalm
92 - 2 - 7,9)
THE ORAL TRADITION
~ MINI HISTORY ~
REVEALED ITS HIDING PLACE
The area where Christ was crucified and buried was easy to find
as Hadrian, tired of the pilgrimages to this holy place in Jerusalem, had
a Pagan Temple - possibly dedicated to Aphrodite, built over the spot to
subdue the Christian crowds. Hadrian also renamed Jerusalem,
Aelia Capitolina and had statue to Jupiter Capitolinus erected. But the
Christians of Jerusalem kept their very holy and important site in their
hearts, passing it from generation to generation in the custom and tradition
of their country and for many, their Jewish heritage.
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Because of these beautiful and holy people, the bishop of Jerusalem,
Marcarius knew where the holy sites were and had hoped the new Christian
Emperor, Constantine would support and restore them. So in 325/326
CE, during the first ecumenical council of Nicea he invited Emperor Constantine
to destroy the pagan temples built atop the Christian holy sites in the
Holy City. With this, Constantine sent his mother, St Helene to Jerusalem
to restore the Christian site and have the pagan temple(s) destroyed.
+
In the writings of Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea (265-340 AD),
we learn that there were hundreds of people involved in the diggings.
In the process of tearing the temple and adjoining buildings down, they
found more than the cave of the Resurrection, that was described in detail
by Eusebius. They also uncovered the rock of Golgotha and found an
ancient Malachite rock quarry where 3 crosses were discovered near the
site of Calvary. He wrote: "The work was carried out, and, as layer
after layer of the subsoil came into view, the venerable and most holy
memorial of the Savior's resurrection, beyond all our hopes, came into
view, the holy of holies, the cave .... by its very existence bearing clearer
testimony to the resurrection of the Savior than any words."
+
In 355, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was established
in Jerusalem. Its purpose was to dedicate the Basilica of the Resurrection.
By 395, St John of Chrysostom had written about the finding of the three
crosses by Empress Helena along with others who documented this remarkable
event.
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Eventually, Constantine would begin building the first
church over the holy sites. During the Crusader Period, the Basilica of
the Holy Sepulchre was completed by bringing together the scattered sites,
including the last Stations of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) under one building.
Today, after fire, earthquakes and war, the Basilica has been restored
in the form of a cross.
please enjoy these beautiful sites but don't forget to come back!
MORE INFORMATION ON THE TRUE CROSS
BASILICA OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE
ROSARY DEDICATED TO THE HOLY CROSS OF JERUSALEM
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:26-28
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