Sep 23rd  

Sep 2:  The Most Rev. Stephen and Judy Reber  -  Anniversary

Sep 9:  The Hartley's  -  Anniversary

Sep 10:  Elijah Epps  -  Birthday

Sep 11:  Alex & Jamie Pate  -  Birthday

Sep 13:  Jordan Epps  -  Birthday

Sep 30:  Lisa Scott  -  Birthday

In the year 627, during the reign of the emperor Heraclius I of Constantinople, the Persians conquered the city of Jerusalem and removed from its venerable Sanctuary the major part of the true Cross of Our Lord. The emperor resolved to win back this precious object, with Heaven visibly assisting the valiant emperor. One of the conditions of the peace treaty was the return of the Cross of Our Lord in the same condition as when it was removed.

The reestablishment of the Cross at Jerusalem, by means of the emperor's Christian valor, was a sure pledge of its protection. It was after these events that the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was instituted, to perpetuate their memory in the Church.

Saint Cyprian was an African of noble birth, the son of a Roman senator; he was a teacher of rhetoric in his youth, but still pagan and frivolous. In his mid-life he was converted to Christianity through the influence of a priest who was himself a convert to Christianity and was edifying all Carthage by his conversation and his virtues. Cyprian, who although convinced of the truth of these excellent reasonings and the beauty of this doctrine, still had to overcome the pride of a philosopher and the worldly bent of his life of pleasure. Nevertheless, grace won out and he listened to the interior voice of conscience, which constantly pressed him onward. He sold his estates and gave the price to the poor. Not long after his baptism, he was ordained a priest, and then consecrated Bishop of Cartage.

When the persecution of Decius broke out, he left his episcopal city and found a secure retreat in order to continue to minister to the spiritual needs of his flock of followers. After a few years, he was finally banished, and retired to a place away from Carthage. There he learned by supernatural revelation of his future martyrdom. He was beheaded on the 14th of September, 258.

Matthew, also called Levi, was sitting at his tax-collector's desk in Caphernaum when he was called by Christ. He followed Him at once, and also gave a feast for Him and the other disciples. After the resurrection of Christ, while Matthew was still in Judea before going to the district which it had fallen to his lot to evangelize, he wrote the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Hebrew for the sake of the Jews who had become believers. Then he went to Ethiopia and preached the Gospel, confirming his teaching with many miracles.

By one of his greatest miracles, that of bringing back to life the king's daughter, he converted the king and his wife, together with the whole country of the faith of Christ. When the king died, his successor wished to marry the daughter of the former king, but she had vowed her virginity to God. Since the vow had been taken through Matthew's influence, the king had Matthew killed at the altar while celebrating Mass. It was on the 21st of September that Matthew's apostolic work was crowned with the glory of martyrdom.