Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Relic of the True
Cross

Today is the feast day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It recalls 3 events: the finding of the Cross by St. Helena, the building of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre over Mt. Calvary and the recovery of the Cross by Emperor Heraklius from the Persians who stole it in 613 AD. Solemn Mass was celebrated on Mt. Calvary but I had Mass back in our own house. We have a piece of the True Cross in our sacristy and it was brought out during Mass. After Mass everyone came up to kiss the relic. Later in the evening the sisters of M. Teresa came for eucharistic adoration but I brought the relic out as well and they venerated it before the benediction of the Eucharist. It was a nice way to end the feast.

For many in the parish, it was an occasion for baptisms. I saw 2 little boys dressed in franciscan habits walking to church with their mothers. That's very normal ... catholic boys usually dress in franciscan habits as a sig of their consecration to St. Anthony of Padua. The local catholics believe St. Anthony will protect their boys as once St. Anthony revived a dead boy for a poor family some 800 years ago. So if you haven't yet done it ... go consecrate your boy(s) to St. Anthony. Also St. Anthony is now as the scourge of demons ... he could caste them out easily. Consecrating boys to St. Anthony therefore meant putting them under his protection so evil powers will not influence the boys.

On the way to baptism ....

Now back to the continuing implosion of Israeli society ... yesterday the High Court struck another blow at the Chief Rabbinate. It rules that the Chief Rabbinate does not hold the monopoly to grant kosher certificates to restaurants. Other legit rabbis are also able to do that. The Chief Rabbinate had recently abolished all rights of all rabbis except themselves in granting these certificates so that restaurants can open "legally" under jewish law. But a lot of corruption and bribery goes on. The High Court made the right move ... but you can be sure the Chief Rabbis will be fighting back. It's all out war between the Chief Rabbis / ultra-orthodox Jews against the Justice system of Israel. No guesses who will win.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/restaurants-okayed-to-say-food-kosher-without-rabbinates-approval/