Feast of Sant'Elena della Croce, Madre di Costantino

Sant'Elena della Croce, ora pro nobis

August 18th is the Feast of Sant'Elena della Croce, Equal to the Apostles, Discoverer of the True Cross, great benefactress of the Church, Empress dowager and mother of Saint Constantine the Great. She is the patroness of Casapesenna in the Province of Caserta.

According to tradition, in 326 A.D. she made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem after a dream revealed the site of Our Savior's tomb at Golgotha. There she discovered the remains of the True Cross and the nails used to crucify Our Lord Jesus Christ.

As maintained by St. Gregory of Tours, on a treacherous voyage across the Adriatic, St. Helen cast one of the nails into the sea, thus calming its rage and making passage across its tempestuous depths less hazardous for seafarers.

The Feast should not be confused with that of Sant’Elena di Laurino, which is also celebrated on August 18th.

In celebration, I'm posting a Prayer to St. Helen. Pictured is my makeshift shrine dedicated to la Madre di Costantino. Evviva Sant'Elena della Croce!

Prayer to St. Helen

Holy and blessed Saint Helen, With the anguish and devotion with which You sought the Cross of Christ, I plead that You give me God’s grace To suffer in patience and labors of this life, So that through them and through Your intercession and protection, I will be able to seek and carry the Cross, Which God has placed upon me, So that I can serve Him in this life and enjoy His Glory ever after. Amen.