Did you know that each month has a traditional Catholic devotion? This year, let’s focus on each devotion month-by-month to grow in our faith and traditions! Make yourself notes, write it on your calendar, and pray a specific prayer each day of the month to remember. You could use a prayer already associated with the devotion or pray a personal one.
We’ve already had a month devoted to Mary’s Immaculate Heart in which we looked at the symbols of her heart. These images include a sword, which represents her sorrows. Sorrow is a sadness full of love, and if you don’t know what her seven sorrows are, we have a post all about the for you!
You’ll see that her sorrows are not tragedies. They certainly are difficult struggles, but because Mary was and is so close to God, anything that happened in her life could not be ruinous. Her son was crucified, died, and was buried. But! He rose again.
Love of God sustained her through her sorrows as the love of God sustains those who trust and believe in Him. As Christians, we should remember that when we look at the crucifix we should never see it without remembering the Resurrection. When the world trips us up or sadness floods into your life, we should remember Noah’s rainbow and think of God’s promises.
Look forward to eternal life in heaven with all your might, offering even the sorrows of this life to God!
September 15th is the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, one of Mary’s many titles. Make a genuine effort to attend Mass, pray her Seven Sorrows, or both.
September Reflection Questions
1. What sorrows are in your life and how can you see God’s love sustaining you in them?
2. What title would you give to Mary in addition to the ones she already has?
3. How can you help people in your life who need help turning sadness and struggles into a love-filled sorrow and perhaps even an unexplainable joy?
4. Who can you share the Seven Sorrows of Mary prayer with?
5. How do you pray in times of sorrow?
September Catholic Challenge
Attend Mass and/or pray the seven sorrows on September 15. Throughout the month, intentionally bring the Good News to those who need to hear it, even if it’s not explicitly reading the Bible to them. Offer your efforts to Jesus through Our Lady of Sorrows.
September Catholic Feast Days
September 3: Memorial of St. Gregory the Great
September 5: Memorial of Mother Teresa of Calcutta
September 8: Mary’s Birthday!
September 9: Memorial of St. Peter Claver
September 12: Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary
September 13: Memorial of St. John Chrysostom
September 14: Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
September 15: Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows
September 16: Memorial of Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian
September 20: Memorial of Sts. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and companions
September 21: Feast of St. Matthew
September 23: Memorial of St. Pius of Pietrelcina
September 27: Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul
September 29: Feast of the Archangels Sts. Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel
September 30: Memorial of St. Jerome
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Catholic Books To Read In September
Praying the Rosary Like Never Before: Encounter the Wonder of Heaven and Earth
Angels of God: The Bible, the Church and the Heavenly Hosts
Padre Pio’s Spiritual Direction for Every Day
Praying With Our Sorrowful Mother: Reflections on the Seven Sorrows of Mary
The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux
Catholic Prayers To Pray In September
Prayer to Your Guardian Angel
Angel of God,
my guardian dear,
To whom God’s love
commits me here,
Ever this day,
be at my side,
To light and guard,
Rule and guide.
Amen.
Prayer to Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows | St. Bonaventure
O Most Holy Virgin, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ: by the overwhelming grief you experienced when you witnessed the martyrdom, the crucifixion and the death of your divine Son, look upon me with eyes of compassion and awaken in my heart a tender commiseration for those sufferings, as well as a sincere detestation of my sins, in order that, being disengaged from all undue affections for the passing joys of this earth, I may long for the eternal Jerusalem, and that henceforth all my thoughts and all my actions may be directed toward this one most desirable object.
Honor, glory and love to our divine Lord Jesus and to the holy and immaculate Mother of God.
Amen.
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