Saint Helena is distinguished in history as the woman led by God to find the True Cross of Jesus Christ's crucifixion.

This is attested to by the early church with such formidable sources as St. Ambrose, St. John Chrysostom, St. Paulinus of Nola and others. St. Helena, born in 255 AD in Bythinia, part of modern day Turkey, was the wife of the Roman Emperor, Constantinius Chlorus.

She was the mother of Constantine the Great, proclaimed Roman Emperor at the death of his father, Chlorus, in 306 AD. Although a pagan, Constantine was greatly influenced by Christianity and by the Christian faith of St. Helena. Consequently, he turned to the God of the Christians in a desperate prayer for victory when his rule over the empire was seriously threatened by the vastly superior military force of Maxentius.

At the battle of the Milvian Bridge, in a suburb of Rome, in 312 AD, he was given a startling sign of victory. He saw a flaming cross in the sky. Beneath the cross were the words, "In hoc signo vinces" - "In this sign you will conquer." Conquer he did and the empire was saved.

Soon after, with a sense of gratitude, Constantine planned to build a basilica in Jerusalem venerating the cross and sepulchre of Jesus. St. Helena at the age of 80 went to Jerusalem to supervise this work.

She found that the sacred place of the crucifixion and resurrection had been desecrated by the Romans, who had filled the area with rubble, erecting a temple to Venus and a statue of Jupiter. Seized with a burning desire to find the True Cross, St. Helena ordered the temple and statue demolished and excavations made in the pile of rubble. Three crosses were found together with some nails and a sign inscribed in Hebrew, Greek and Latin, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." The sign, however, was found separated from the crosses.

There was the question as to which was the true Cross. Bishop Macarius of Jerusalem suggested the application of each cross to an incurably ill woman. The application of the first two failed. The third was successful. She was instantly cured. Thus, the True Cross was identified by a divine sign.

We honor our patroness St. Helena and ask her to pray for the saving graces won by Christ on the cross will fill out parish and school, our homes, and families.  

By Monsignor Philip M. Mulcahy