Novena for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Day 1

10 min

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

Novena for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Opening prayer:

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world. Through this sacred sign of our salvation, hear the prayers I bring before You, and let the Cross be my strength, my refuge, and my glory. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 1: The triumph of the Cross

What looked like Christ's defeat was in truth His victory, for on the Cross He conquered sin and death and disarmed the powers of darkness. The Church teaches us to call this wood not a gallows but a throne, the standard of the King who reigns from the tree. Where the world saw only shame and failure, faith beholds the trophy of love triumphant, the moment heaven was opened and the long captivity of mankind undone.

O Christ our King, who reigned from the throne of the Cross and turned defeat into everlasting victory, grant us eyes of faith to see Your triumph hidden in suffering. Teach us to glory in Your saving wood, and by its power lead us from every defeat into the victory of Your love. Amen.

Today's intention:

For the grace to see victory hidden within the Cross.

Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Pater noster, qui es in cælis,

sanctificétur nomen tuum.

Advéniat regnum tuum.

Fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra.

Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie,

et dimítte nobis débita nostra,

sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris.

Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem,

sed líbera nos a malo.

Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.

Benedícta tu in muliéribus,

et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatóribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.

Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,

et in sǽcula sæculórum.

Amen.

Closing prayer:

O Lord Jesus, lifted high upon the Cross to draw all things to Yourself, grant that I may never be ashamed of Your Cross but carry my own with love. May the wood of suffering blossom for me into the tree of life. Amen.

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.