CATHEDRAL SACRAMENTALS:
The Relic of the True Cross
Catholics do not–or more precisely–should not worship relics. The relic of the True Cross here at St. John’s Cathedral, as a sacramental, serves as a means to point us to a deeper prayer life. Keep in mind that the cruelty of the Cross is not what is exalted, but the love that God manifested to humanity by accepting death on the Cross. First the backstory of locating the Cross, and then how we ended up with a portion of it here.
Early in the fourth century, Saint Helena (pictured), mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, went to Jerusalem in search of the holy places of Christ’s life. She razed the second-century Temple of Aphrodite, which tradition held was built over the Savior’s tomb, and her son built the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher on that spot.
During the excavation, workers found three crosses. Legend has it that the one on which Jesus died was identified when its touch healed a dying woman. The cross immediately became an object of veneration, and to this day, the Eastern Churches, Catholic and Orthodox alike, celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on the September anniversary of the Holy Sepulcher’s dedication.
Now fast forward to our time, when the Cathedral received a gift from Mount Angel Abbey—
a relic of the True Cross—which is quite a story.
Two brothers. Fr. Damien Jentges (Abbot of the Mount Angel Abbey 1950-74), acquired the Holy relic for his brother, Monsignor John Alois Jentges, back in 1949, complete with a certificate of authenticity (see below) signed off by the bishop of the Diocese back then, Edward Kelly (for whom the local Catholic high school was named) in 1950.
When Msgr. John Jentges died in 1963, Fr. Joseph Muha became the administrator at his former parish, and when Abbot Damien asked him if there was anything he’d like to have as a memento of his departed brother, Fr. Muha motioned to the relic of the cross on Msgr. Jentges’ desk.
A few months later when Abbot Damien and Fr. Muha saw each other again, Abbot Damien gifted Fr. Muha with the relic, with the condition that it be returned to Mount Angel upon Fr. Muha’s death.
Enter Fr. Gerald Funke who was the Cathedral rector in 2017. He knew Fr. Muha, and he knew about the relic he had, so Fr. Jerry asked Fr. Muha: would he share the relic with the Cathedral?
Fr. Muha agreed, but noted that he had to see first with Mt. Angel and asked the abbot Jeremy Driscoll if that would be possible.
Abbot Driscoll said yes, and wrote in the gift letter to Fr. Jerry:
“With this gift [of the relic] I wish to express the ties of friendship that exist between Mt. Angel Abbey and the Diocese of Boise. Both Abbot Damian and I were born and raised in the Boise Diocese, and we both have enjoyed deep ties of friendship with the bishops and priests of the diocese.
It makes me happy to think that this gift can be shared with the cathedral and that the faithful of the diocese be given the opportunity to venerate the relic of the Holy Cross both liturgically and devotionally. The monks of Mount Angel request...the prayers of the faithful of the diocese as we gather together in faith around this precious relic of the divine deed by which we are saved.”
Almost every Catholic Church has a relic, and after this circuitous story, we’re fortunate to have a piece of the True Cross here for all to venerate. The relic is now permanently placed in our special veneration wooden cross (pictured). At the intersection of the two beams there is a glass display case, where you can see the relic of the True Cross.
This wooden cross was designed and built by parishioner Braden Stauts per Fr. Jerry’s request. To watch a brief video of the making of the cross CLICK HERE.
Each time we gather for prayer in the Cathedral let us remember that we have a special sacramental in our midst, a small piece of the very Cross of the Lord.
