Solemnity of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – Holy Mass on Cross Mountain

date: 16.09.2008.

"Dear children! The cross was also in God's plan when you built it. These days, especially, go on the mountain and pray before the cross. I need your prayers. Thank you for having responded to my call", said Our Lady on August 30, 1984.

In the Parish of Medjugorje, the Solemnity of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is traditionally celebrated on the first Sunday after the Feast of the Nativity of Mary. In honour of the Holy Year of Redemption 1933/34, and enthused by their pastor Fr. Bernardin Smoljan, the parishioners, despite their poverty, built a monumental cross, 8.5 m high and 3.5 m wide, on the hill above Medjugorje. Relics of the true cross of Jesus, received from Rome for the occasion, are embedded in the crossbar itself.

On March 16, 1934, the first Holy Mass was celebrated at the foot of the cross. In September 1935, Bishop Alojzije Misic ordered the Solemnity of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross to be celebrated every year on the first Sunday after the Feast of the Nativity of Mary. Ever since, Holy Mass is celebrated there. Until 1981, this was a feast for parishioners and their friends from the neighbouring villages, but since 1981, it became a feast for the pilgrims from all over the world as well.

In Medjugorje, Our Lady constantly calls us to pray before the cross and to venerate the Cross of Christ. Again this year, numerous local and foreign pilgrims responded to her call.

At 10.00 am the prayer of the Rosary was begun at the foot of Cross Mountain. It was led by the Franciscans from Medjugorje. At 11.00 am, Holy Mass was presided over by Fr. Svetozar Kraljević. 56 priests concelebrated Holy Mass. Because of the rain, Holy Communions were not distributed on Cross Mountain this year. The faithful received Holy Communion upon descending the mountain, in the parish church. 3.500 Holy Communions were distributed.

During the morning of this particular Feast, no further Masses are celebrated in other languages. However, a solemn Holy Mass was celebrated at noon in the parish church, which was presided over by Fr. Tomislav Pervan and concelebrated by 62 priests.

The evening Holy Mass, celebrated at the outside altar, was presided over by Fr. Miljenko Šteko and concelebrated by 62 priests.