Christ Jesus, humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:6-11)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091423.cfm
While in the USA the feast of the Holy Cross is celebrated on September 14th, in Latin America the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is kept on this day. The Apostles Philip and James are bumped to tomorrow, May 4. The Cross is the Exaltation, the Glorification of Jesus. In Colombia we have the tradition of the Mil Jesuses (Praying the Name of Jesus a thousand times) on this feast day. Here is a link to an explanation of the custom by the auxiliary bishop of Medellín: https://youtu.be/9aBiMhD_9VM.
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross, May 3 (Latin America)
