The Cross is not only the mystery of salvation, but an
example to follow.
The whole of the Easter mystery, dearly-beloved, has been brought
before us in the Gospel narrative, and the ears of the mind have been so
reached through the ear of flesh that none of you can fail to have a
picture of the events: for the text of the Divinely-inspired story has
clearly shown the treachery of the Lord Jesus Christ's betrayal, the
judgment by which He was condemned, the barbarity of His
crucifixion, and glory of His resurrection. But a sermon is still required
of us, that the priests' exhortation may be added to the solemn reading
of Holy Writ, as I am sure you are with pious expectation demanding of
us as your accustomed due. Because therefore there is no place for
ignorance in faithful ears, the seed of the Word which consists of the
preaching of the Gospel, ought to grow in the soil of your heart, so that,
when choking thorns and thistles have been removed, the plants of holy
thoughts and the buds of right desires may spring up freely into fruit. For the cross of Christ, which was set up for the salvation of
mortals, is both a mystery and an example: a sacrament where by the Divine power takes effect, an example whereby man's devotion
is excited: for to those who are rescued from the prisoner's yoke Redemption further procures the power of following the way of the
cross by imitation. For if the world's wisdom so prides itself in its error that every one follows the opinions and habits and whole
manner of life of him whom he has chosen as his leader, how shall we share in the name of Christ save by being inseparably united to
Him, Who is, as He Himself asserted, "the Way, the Truth, and the Life?" the Way that is of holy living, the Truth of Divine doctrine,
and the Life of eternal happiness. Pope St. Leo the Great (Reign: 440-461), Sermon LXXII – On the Resurrection
The power of the cross is universally attractive.
O wondrous power of the Cross! O ineffable glory of the Passion, in which is contained the Lord's tribunal, the world's judgment, and
the power of the Crucified! For thou didst draw all things unto Thee, Lord and when Thou hadst stretched out Thy hands all the day,
long to an unbelieving people that gainsaid Thee, the whole world at last was brought to confess Thy majesty. Thou didst draw all
things unto Thee, Lord, when all the elements combined to pronounce judgment in execration of the Jews' crime, when the lights of
heaven were darkened, and the day turned into night, and the earth also was shaken with unwonted shocks, and all creation refused to
serve those wicked men. Thou didst draw all things unto Thee, Lord. for the veil of the temple was rent, and the Holy of Holies existed
no more for those unworthy high-priests: so that type was turned into Truth, prophecy into Revelation law into Gospel. Thou didst draw
all things unto Thee, Lord, so that what before was done in the one temple of the Jews in dark signs, was now to be celebrated
everywhere by the piety of all the nations in full and open rite. For now there is a nobler rank of Levites, there are elders of greater
dignity and priests of holier anointing: because Thy cross is the fount of all blessings, the source of all graces, and through it the
believers receive strength for weakness, glory for shame, life for death. Now, too, the variety of fleshly sacrifices has ceased, and the
one offering of Thy Body and Blood fulfils all those different victims: for Thou art the true "Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the
world," and in Thyself so accomplishest all mysteries, that as there is but one sacrifice instead of many victims, so there is but one
kingdom instead of many nations. Pope St. Leo the Great (Reign: 440-461) Sermon LIX – On the Passion
And at the first cockcrow they come down from the Imbomon with hymns, and arrive at the place where the
Lord prayed, as it is written in the Gospel: and He was withdrawn [from them] about a stone's cast, and prayed,
and the rest. There is in that place a graceful church. The bishop and all the people enter, a prayer suitable to
the place and to the day is said, with one suitable hymn, and the passage from the Gospel is read where He said
to His disciples: Watch, that ye enter not into temptation. The whole passage is read through and prayer is
made. And then all, even to the smallest child, go down with the Bishop, on foot, with hymns to Gethsemane.
There, on account of the great number of people in the crowd who are wearied owing to the vigils and weak
through the daily fasts, and because they have so great a hill to descend, they come very slowly with hymns to
Gethsemane. And over two hundred church candles are made ready to give light to all the people. On their
arrival at Gethsemane, first a suitable prayer is made, then a hymn is said, and then the passage of the Gospel is
read where the Lord was taken. And when this passage has been read there is so
great a moaning and groaning of all the people, together with weeping, that
their lamentation may be heard perhaps as far as the city. From that hour they
go with hymns to the city on foot, reaching the gate about the time when one
man begins to be able to recognize another, and thence right on through the
midst of the city. All, to a man, both great and small, rich and poor, all are
ready there, for on that special day not a soul withdraws from the vigils until
morning. Thus the bishop is escorted from Gethsemane to the gate, and thence
through the whole of the city to the Cross. Egeria (4th Century) - Pilgrimage