The World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation is celebrated September 1st. In keeping with this theme, we also celebrate Saint Hildegard of Bingen and the Stigmata of Saint Francis on the same day: Sept 17th. Both saints are invoked for nature, as they contributed greatly to theology referencing God’s creation. We also have the Ember Days of Autumn on the 24th, 26th and 27th, in which we perform prayer and penance for the upcoming season. Reading the Mass missal for the Ember Days is a wonderful way to celebrate them. In addition, traditionally, meat was eaten at only one meal on Ember Wednesday and Saturday. If you missed praying for the earth on the 1st, these feasts would be a great time to do so.
There are countless devotions to Our Lady of Sorrows, the Seven Sorrows and the Sorrowful Heart of Our Lady. We honor our Sorrowful Mother on the 15th, which gives us our theme of this month (there are 4 more Marian feasts, see below in bold). Let us show our love and empathy for her by choosing one of these devotions to perform. We at Nomen Christi Apostolate also contemplate the Marian Triad of the Months during these 3 months in honor of the Mother of God. Next month is Our Lady of the Rosary, when we also honor the sanctity of life. For this month, we may meditate on how the Immaculate Heart we celebrated last month, intertwines with the Sorrowful Heart. They are often invoked together.
Other notable feasts of September in both the trad and post-con calendars…
6th-First Saturday of the Immaculate Heart
8th-Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
12th-Holy Name of Mary
14th-EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
21st-Saint Matthew, Apostle & Evangelist
24th-Our Lady of Ransom
26th-North American Martyrs
27th-Saint Vincent de Paul
29th-Saints Michael, Gabriel & Raphael, Archangels/Dedication of Saint Michael
Homeschool Activities for September
1) List the 7 Sorrows of Our Lady. Can you find where they are in Holy Scripture?
2) Make an Autumn craft for the Ember Days, incorporating a spiritual theme.
3) Draw a picture of the 3 archangels.