Crux Spes Unica: The Cross Our Only Hope

With the eyes of faith, consider the greatness of your mission and the wonderful amount of good you can accomplish. And also consider the great reward promised to those who have taught the truth to others and have helped form them into justice: They will shine eternally in the skies like the stars of the heavens. With the hope of this glory, we must generously complete the Lord's work.

-Father Basil Moreau

The Cross- along with an anchor-forms the coat of arms of the Congregation of Holy Cross. The motto, Spes Unica, gives expression to the founder Fr. Basil Moreau's conviction that our true and sole hope is in the Cross.


Born on February 11, 1799 near Le Mans, France, Father Moreau experienced the devastating consequences of the French Revolution. Ordained a priest at 22 years of age, he taught and served as assistant superior of the major seminary in Le Mans. Deeply committed to preaching and Christian education in France, he laid the foundations for the Congregation of Holy Cross, which united the auxiliary priest of Holy Cross and the Brothers of St. Joseph.


I attended a 3 day seminar to learn about the incredible life of this man whose legacy not only includes the Notre Dame in IN, but also St. Edwards University in Austin TX, King's College in Wilkes Barrie, PA (host site of this conference), and of course my beloved Hoban High School right here in Akron, OH.

We had about 40 Holy Cross educators from across the country in attendance, and all had the opportunity to participate in this one excursion of touring the Lackawanna Coal Mine....unbelievable! And yes, I went down this hole in a mine cart, descending approximately 300 feet to the coal beds. In 1902, the Continental Mine's compensation for a miner who blasted and loaded 3 ton coal cars was $1.50- for the whole day! Children were also employed for various tasks including mule drivers (these poor animals never left the mine!) and slate pickers, which brought in a whopping .6- .9 cents an hour. The most disheartening part of the tour was to find out that over 100,000 people have died in American coal mines over the years, many of whom were young children from simply falling asleep on the job, being crushed to death from the coal carts, or electrocuted from the equipment. This particular mine closed in the 1960's as it was no longer able to compete with natural gas companies for fuel consumption.

En route to home, we stopped at Scranton's ballpark, home of the Yankee's triple A team. Mary Lou's son is evidently a huge Yankee's fan. (and obviously in need of some serious therapy!) Oh, and as far as King's College is concerned, it costs a King's ransom to send your kids there. Next year's tuition is set at a cool $32,ooo.