‘Our joy is in the shape of the cross’: A piece of the Cross comes to Opus Dei centre

In 1990, Blessed Alvaro del Portillo, the successor of Josemaria Escriva as prelate of Opus Dei from 1982 to 1994, gifted to Canada a relic of the True Cross with the prayer that it be placed in the first Opus Dei conference centre in B.C. Thirty-four years later, the saint’s desire was realized. 

On June 8, Father Paul Cormier led the installation of the relic at Copper Ridge Conference Centre, an Opus Dei facility at Britannia Beach that provides activities such as retreats, workshops, and seminars to people of all backgrounds.  

The ceremony was simple and reverent, with Father Cormier leading the faithful in silent adoration. After a homily, he blessed the attendees with the True Cross and then installed it in a cabinet in the foyer. 

“I loved the whole experience,” said one woman who was at Copper Ridge for the first time and believes the spiritual blessings that will flow from the relic will be immeasurable. “It was the prayer during the exposition and then again when the relic was placed in the cabinet that really spoke to me,” she said. 

In his homily, Father Cormier spoke about how devotion to the cross has been an object of special veneration from the beginnings of the Church. The early Christians took the cross very seriously and would frequently trace a small cross on their own foreheads. “They wouldn’t have wanted to make the large ‘sign of the cross’ that we make. It would have been too ‘real,’ too painful for them,” he said.  

It was St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, who is attributed with finding the three crosses of Jesus and the two thieves around 326 AD. Helena soon distinguished Jesus’ cross by its ability to heal the sick. 

Opus Dei also has a close connection to the cross. Founder St. Josemaria saw this in a special way in 1931 as he was celebrating Mass. He heard the Scripture verse from John 12:32, “And I, when I am lifted up, will draw all things to myself,” and understood that God wanted all people to put the cross with Christ’s teachings at the summit of all human activity. This was how Christ would triumph, drawing all things to himself.  

The oratory of Copper Ridge reflects that connection most visibly in the backdrop to the altar which features a large wooden carving of Jesus on the cross, alive and looking at Mary and John. Upon close inspection, a tear can be seen on Mary’s cheek. She, who learned to identify with the suffering of her son, can teach us this as well, said Father Cormier. 

“St. Josemaria said that our joy is in the shape of the cross,” Father Cormier said, “and our joy is the joy of self-giving.” 

Following this line of thought, he suggested thinking of the cross upon waking in the morning, telling our Lord we are ready to sacrifice. “The cross is present in every aspect of our daily life – in sickness, poverty, tiredness, tensions with others, professional challenges. Through the cross, Jesus has taught us to turn our pain into glory.” 

Elizabeth Boyd, the centre’s fundraising chair said the installation had personal meaning for her. “I think a lot of us brought very special intentions to the ceremony today.” 

She was praying in particular for a friend who is pregnant and has been told her baby has Down syndrome.  

“Although the medical providers keep suggesting abortion, she is praying simply that the baby will thrive in the womb so that he can join their family. We all have so much to pray for. We may not get the answer we want, but we are united to the cross.” 

Maturing in faith, she said, means “we recognize that to be more like Christ, we have to share in his suffering and to embrace the cross. And having the relic here will remind us of that when we participate in retreats and workshops.” 

Attendee Mariett Dee said it’s important to understand what was happening at the installation. 

“If there was a hero who died for this country, we would value things that belonged to him. We also value relics that belonged to saints. But this is so much more. This had contact with Our Lord himself. It touched him. If we struggle to appreciate it, it will help us grow in our devotion to him, to pray better, and then it will truly make an impact on us.” 

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