September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows.
Mary is not only our model; she is also our comfortess. She sympathizes with us in our sorrows with a mother’s unselfish love; she soothes our aching hearts, and fills them with heavenly sweetness. In times of grief, instead of pining with fretful impatience, we should look up to the Mother of Dolors, and learn from her example how to practice supernatural resignation; we should raise our hearts to the Comfortess of the afflicted in childlike prayer, and confidently ask her to obtain for us, by her all-powerful intercession, that supernatural strength which we need to sustain us in our sorrow, and to bear our grief in loving resignation.
“How needful was it,” exclaims Father Faber, “that God should permit Mary’s dolors! What would the sea of human sorrow be without Mary’s moonlight on it? The ocean, with the dark, heavy, overspread clouds lowering upon it, does not differ more widely from the silvery plane of green and whitely flashing waters, exultant in the sunlight, than the weary expanse of life’s successive cares, without the softening and almost alluring light which falls upon it from Mary’s love, differs from life as it now lies before us beneath her maternal throne. How many a tear has she not already wiped away from our eyes! How many bitter tears has she not made sweet in the shedding! And there is age, and the yearly narrowing circle of those we love, and sickness, and death, and all yet to come, and to what amount may we not have to draw upon the treasure of consolations in her sinless heart? Oh, it was well for us, and it was most entirely to her heart’s content, that God permitted her dolors, that she might be so much the more really the Mother of the afflicted; for the heaviness of her sorrows is daily the lightening of ours; and how little it is that we can bear, and how great the load which she could bear, and how royally she bore it.”
–M.D. Forrest, MSC
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST – Saint Anna, Prophetess. At age 72, Anna was charged with the care of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Temple from her presentation there at age three until her betrothal to Saint Joseph. She was in attendance at the Temple when Jesus was presented. Having all her life believed in the prophecies of the Old Testament, she was the only woman in the Temple to greet the Saviour.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD – Pope Saint Pius X. The inscription on the tomb of Pius X, in the crypt of the basilica of St. Peter’s, gives the most eloquent testimony to a life spent in the service of God: “Born poor and humble of heart; Undaunted champion of the Catholic faith; Zealous to restore all things in Christ; Crowned a holy life with a holy death.” IHM School Parent / Teachers Meeting at 7:30 p.m. in St. Agnes Hall.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH – 15TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. Saint Laurence Justinian encouraged frequent Communion, saying that the person who does not strive to become united with Him as frequently as possible has very little love for Jesus Christ.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH – NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. The birth of Mary represents the entrance into the world of a new grace, a new blessing, a new presence that was an incomparable presage of the presence, blessing and grace that would come with the Saviour. For all these reasons the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady should be most dear to us. First day of school for IHM students. Ask the Holy Ghost to guide the teachers and students of IHM through a happy and successful 2010-2011 school year!
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH – 16TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. The Holy Name of Mary. Love to repeat this sweet name which the saints were wont to apply as a healing balm to their heart. “O name of Mary! Joy in the heart, honey in the mouth, melody to the ear of her devout clients!” –St. Anthony of Padua </br> Bring your big ideas and school spirit and join us for a Yardsale Meeting to see how you can help out for the IHM Bazaar on October 9th. Meeting will be held in a classroom after 9:00 a.m. Mass.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH – Exaltation of the Holy Cross, like so many other liturgical feasts, had its origin at Jerusalem, and is connected with the commemoration of the Finding of the Cross and the building, by Constantine, of churches upon the sites of the Holy Sepulchre and Calvary. The feast of May 3, commemorates the finding of the Cross by Saint Helena.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH – Our Lady of Sorrows. The Seven Sorrows have been honored by the Church since the 14th century. These came to be known as the Seven Dolors (sorrows) of the Blessed Virgin. The seven swords symbolize the seven sorrows of Our Lady’s life. Devotion to the Sorrows of Mary gave rise to the figure in Christian art of the Pietà, the sorrowing Mother holding the dead Body of her Son at the foot of the Cross. These Sorrows are: The Prophecy of Simeon, The Flight into Egypt, The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple, the Meeting on the way to Calvary, the Crucifixion, the Taking Down from the Cross, the Burial of Jesus.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH – Saint Joseph Cupertino was remarkably unclever, but of such a strong faith that he often experienced miraculous levitation and intense ecstatic visions. He is therefore, recognized as the patron saint of air travelers, aviators, astronauts, people with a mental handicap, test takers, and weak students. He was canonized in the year 1767.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH – 17TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. Our Lady of La Salette. Remember, dear Lady of La Salette, true Mother of Sorrows, the tears which thou didst shed for me on Calvary; be mindful also of the unceasing care which thou dost exercise to shield me from the justice of God; and consider whether thou canst now abandon thy child, for whom thou hast done so much. Inspired by this consoling thought, I come to cast myself at thy feet, in spite of my infidelity and ingratitude. Reject not my prayer, O Virgin of reconciliation, convert me, obtain for me the grace to love Jesus Christ above all things and to console thee too by living a holy life, in order that one day I may be able to see thee in Heaven. Amen.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH – Saint Eustace was a Roman captain of guards, passionately fond of the chase. One day, after bringing a stag to bay, he discovered that it had a crucifix with the dead Redeemer upon it between its horns. This caused him to reflect upon the new Faith of which he had heard so much, the consequence being that on the very next day he was baptized. Refusing to offer incense to the false gods, he martyred by being shut inside the brazen bull.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST – Saint Matthew was known as Levi, a tax-collector, until the day when Our Lord passed his booth and said simply: “Follow Me.” Matthew left his money, position and family and followed Christ immediately. He wasted no time wondering, “If I could only be sure I have a vocation,”…He heard the call and went. Feastday of Brother Matthew, MICM
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND – Saint Thomas of Villanova. EMBER DAY. The origin of the word "ember" in "Ember Days" is not obvious, not even to those who know Latin. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, "Ember" is a corruption (or we might say, a contraction) of the Latin phrase Quatuor Tempora, which simply means "four times," since the Ember Days are celebrated four times per year in order to ask God's blessing upon the seasons. Although Ember Days are not universally practiced any longer; the traditional custom is still to fast and abstain on those days.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD – Saint Padre Pio. Prayer is the best weapon we possess. It is the key that opens the heart of God.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH – Our Lady of Ransom. During a time that so many Christians were being seized by Turks, Our Lady came to the rescue by asking three men to found an Order for the redemption of captives. By this, she shows the loving concern she has for each and every one of us. EMBER DAY.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH – Saint Cleophas. EMBER DAY.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH – 18TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. The Eight North American Martyrs. We should have a special love and reverence for these men who were among the first to shed their blood for Christ in the New World. Make a special trip to visit their shrine where they were martyred in Auriesville, NY. Feastday of Brother John, MICM.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH – Saint Michael the Archangel. Devotion to Michael the Archangel is one of the oldest devotions of the Church; indeed, his roles in God’s divine plan date back before the Incarnation. It was St. Michael who led God’s army against Lucifer and the other rebellious fallen angels, St. Michael who guards the Catholic Church and her pope, and St. Michael who, at God’s command will reprise his role against the Antichrist in the End Times.
