An Easy Feast Day Recipe to Celebrate St. Helena and the True Cross
The story of St. Helena can be read on her Feast Day (August 18th) or on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
The story of St. Helena
(from Butler’s Lives of Saints)
It was the pious boast of the city of Colchester, England, for many ages, that St. Helena was born within its walls; and though this honor has been disputed, it is certain that she was a British princess. She embraced Christianity late in life; but her incomparable faith and piety greatly influenced her son Constantine, the first Christian emperor, and served to kindle a holy zeal in the hearts of the Roman people.
Forgetful of her high dignity, she delighted to assist at the Divine Office amid the poor ; and by her alms-deeds showed herself a mother to the indigent and distressed.
In her eightieth year she made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, with the ardent desire of discovering the cross on which our blessed Redeemer suffered. After many labors, three crosses were found on Mount Calvary, together with the nails and the inscription recorded by the Evangelists. It still remained to identify the true cross of Our Lord. By the advice of the bishop, Macarius, the three were applied successively to a woman afflicted with an incurable disease, and no sooner had the third touched her than she arose, perfectly healed. The pious empress, transported with joy, built a most glorious church on Mount Calvary to receive the precious relic, sending portions of it to Rome and Constantinople, where they were solemnly exposed to the adoration of the faithful.
In the year 313 Constantine found himself attacked by Maxentius with vastly superior forces, and the very existence of his empire threatened. In this crisis he bethought him of the crucified Christian God Whom his mother Helena worshipped, and kneeling down, prayed God to reveal Himself and give him the victory.
Suddenly, at noonday, a cross of fire was seen by his army in the calm and cloudless sky, and beneath it the words. In hoc signo vinces — ” Through this sign thou shalt conquer.” By divine command, Constantine made a standard like the cross he had seen, which was borne at the head of his troops; and under this Christian ensign they marched against the enemy, and obtained a complete victory. Shortly after, Helena herself returned to Rome, where she expired, 328.
Reflection (from Butler’s Lives of Saints):
St. Helena thought it the glory of her life to find the cross of Christ, and to raise a temple in its honor. How many Christians in these days are ashamed to make this life-giving sign, and to confess themselves the followers of the Crucified!
St. Helena, pray for us!
Easy Feast Day Recipe
Nut-free pesto recipe to enjoy in honor St. Helena finding the True Cross under a bushel of basil:
Nut-Free Pesto
4 cups of fresh basil
1/4-1/2 cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
pepper to taste
Add all ingredients to your blender, starting with 1/4 cup olive oil. Blend on medium speed until all of the basil is pureed. If it is getting stuck in the blender, add more olive oil (up to 1/2 cup).
Serve as a sauce on pasta, add it to a sandwich, or spread on a piece of fresh bread! Imagine St. Helena’s joy of finding the True Cross as you enjoy!
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