Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Celebrated on Cross Mountain

Ever since the early morning, numerous pilgrims from all over the world made their way up the Cross Mountain—a climb undertaken for nearly half a century now—while the parishioners of Međugorje have been ascending this hill above the village for almost a century to celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. This feast is traditionally held on Cross Mountain on the first Sunday following the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The idea to build the cross originated in the Vatican. Pope Pius XI wished for crosses to be erected on high ground around the world to mark the 1,900th anniversary of Christ's passion and death. One of those who embraced this idea was Friar Bernardin Smoljan, the parish priest of Međugorje. He announced the plan to his parishioners in January 1934, and the parish enthusiastically accepted it.

The parishioners of Međugorje literally carried heavy loads up the hill—then known as Šipovac—on their own shoulders, completing the construction of the large concrete cross in just 52 days. On March 16, 1934, the parish priest blessed the cross and celebrated the first Holy Mass on the hill, which has since been known as Cross Mountain.

Cross Mountain has become an essential stop for the many pilgrims visiting Međugorje; every Friday afternoon, parishioners and pilgrims gather there to pray the Stations of the Way of the Cross. Many pilgrims from neighboring parishes arrived on foot again today; many went to confession on Cross Mountain and prayed the Stations of the Cross during their ascent. Holy Mass was celebrated by Fr. Ivan Landeka Jr., parochial vicar at St. Anthony’s Parish in Humac and novice master. The novices assisted at Mass, and the singing was led by the Medjugorje parish priest, Fr. Zvonimir Pavičić.

At the beginning of Mass, Fr. Ivan Landeka recalled the event when the Lord revealed Himself to Moses on Mount Horeb and said to him: "Remove your sandals, for the place where you stand is holy ground."

"The same applies to this place where we are now. Many of you have truly come to this place even physically barefoot, having removed your footwear... But we are called, above all, to remove the footwear of our sins in this holy place. To remove the footwear of everything that makes us unworthy of this holy place. Therefore, at the beginning of this Holy Mass, as we thank the Lord that we can once again be in this holy place, let us remove the footwear of our sins in a sincere repentance, asking for God’s mercy and forgiveness," said Fr. Ivan Landeka Jr. as he introduced the Holy Mass celebration this Sunday, September 13, on Cross Mountain above Medjugorje. At the start of his homily, he noted that the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is an invitation to gaze upon Jesus’ cross and listen to what it tells us—what His holy wounds tell us, what His crown of thorns tells us, what His patience tells us, and what His immense love and goodness tell us...

He then spoke about the history of the construction of this cross—beneath which Holy Mass has been celebrated on Križevac since 1934—noting that during this Holy Mass, we remember and give thanks to those who built it. Yet, he added, "above all, we thank them for the faith and love they passed on to us, so that we, too, here at the foot of the cross today, might belong more fully to Jesus and be more deeply filled with His love and goodness."

He also remarked that today, many pilgrims—especially while praying the Stations of the Cross as they ascend this hill—find meaning in their own crosses and discover the strength to bear the burdens of daily life...

"These are all graces for which we thank the Lord here today. Let us also pray that His love—which shone upon us so brightly from the wood of the cross—may continually inspire us, so that by His grace and with His help, we might more easily carry our own daily crosses," said Friar Ivan Landeka Jr., emphasizing that "we always have the opportunity to find healing by fixing our gaze upon the Lord Jesus and His cross."

"That is why it has been so beautifully said that we are often too focused on our own crosses. If we were to look more often at Jesus' cross and contemplate it, our own crosses would become much lighter; for by gazing upon His cross and meditating on it, our crosses become lighter and more bearable... Even Saint Francis of Assisi—whom we are especially commemorating this year as we mark the 800th anniversary of his death—told his first brothers that, above all, it is necessary to read the book of Jesus' cross." Let us, too, take away from this holy hill of Cross Mountain today that important message: to read the book of Jesus’s Cross again and again, to learn from it, and to draw strength from it. Just as Jesus tells us: "Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls." And that is what we yearn for most: peace for our hearts, peace for our souls," said Fr. Ivan Landeka Jr., urging everyone to pray before the Cross—"something Our Lady has often called for in Medjugorje"—for beneath the Lord’s Cross, one will "always find the spiritual strength needed for life’s journey."

"We all have crosses in our homes, in our families, in our rooms; many even wear them around their necks. Yet, let us strive to ensure that these crosses are not merely wall decorations, but truly something we gaze upon often—a source of inspiration and strength on life’s journey," Friar Ivan urged, continuing: "That is why it is good, even during the day—perhaps when we are in a rush and short on time—to look at Jesus’s Cross and say: 'Lord, grant me strength for this day; grant me strength for the difficulties I may encounter; grant me strength for the cross I am currently bearing. May I, guided by Your Cross and inspired by Your example, walk patiently and follow You, just as You called me to do: "Whoever wishes to be mine, let him take up his cross and follow me."