Bringing people out of the ravages of the French Revolution tapped every single gift Basil Moreau could discern in his young Congregation of Holy Cross, and then some. So does the teaching and healing and grace-bringing done by Holy Cross and their co-disciples (all the rest of us at UP fit into that group) today. Interdependence is […]
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Did You Know? Three More Charisms: Community, Family, and Cross
We continue our look at the charisms—the purposes that ignite the work of the men and women who are part of the Congregation of Holy Cross—and remembering that they were formed in response to the wounds inflicted on the people of northern France during and after the French Revolution. Basil Moreau and his band knew […]
Religious Charisms: Did You Know?
“Charism” is a word that comes up frequently when describing Catholic religious orders and communities. In some ways, you can think of an order’s charism as its personality. Charism is the inspirational purpose that starts communities and keeps them going. It is their particular mission and animating spirit. It gives religious communities distinctive flavors and […]
Crucifixes in Our Classrooms at UP: Did You Know?
As part of being a Catholic, Holy Cross university, classrooms at UP each contain a crucifix displayed in a prominent place at the front. Crucifixes are distinct from plain crosses in that they have an image of the crucified Jesus (called a corpus) on the cross. Crucifixes are visceral and even sometimes uncomfortable reminders of […]
The Cross and Anchors: Did You Know?
The image of a cross interlocked with two anchors can be seen all around the UP campus – in the University Seal, etched in cornerstones, hanging around the necks of priests and brothers, and even on utility hole covers. For Blessed Basil Moreau, the founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, the cross was something […]
The Lenten Season: Did You Know?
Sure, many people know that Lent is the period of time leading up to Easter, but why do we have it? Is it just about making things hard on ourselves before the celebration of Easter? A period of preparation for the Easter celebration, which is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, has been a […]
The Saint John’s Bible: Did You Know?
The Saint John’s Bible is a stunning resource and a too-hidden jewel at UP. To mark the new millennium, the Benedictine monks of St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville Minnesota commissioned this work—the first fully hand-calligraphed, illuminated Bible manuscript to be crafted since the invention of the printing press, which is why it’s called The Saint John’s Bible. […]
Gathering a Minyan on Campus: Did You Know?
One dimension of religious practice that Catholics share with our Jewish brothers and sisters is an emphasis on the importance of the community in the daily living of faith. In many strands of Judaism, it’s important to have a minyan gathered to offer daily prayers. A minyan is a quorum of ten men (or in many communities, […]
The Difference Between “Blessed” and “Saint”: Did You Know?
Do you know the difference between a “Blessed” and a “Saint?” Two holy men of Holy Cross have special days this month. January contains the feast days of St. Andre Bessette (Jan. 6) and Blessed Basil Moreau (Jan. 20). While they both have feast days, each one carries a slightly different title, one “Blessed” and […]
Did You Know? Visio Divina at UP
One unique spiritual opportunity available to members of the UP community is Visio Divina, offered during Advent and Lent here on campus. Visio Divina, or “sacred seeing,” is an ancient contemplative prayer form that invites participants to enter imaginatively into a brief Scripture passage as it’s slowly read aloud, and then to do the same with an […]