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14th September - Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Make your own mind of Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped. But he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming as human beings are; and being in every way like a human being, he was humbler yet, event to accepting death, death on a cross. And for this God raised him high, and gave him the name which is above all other names; so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld should bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father. O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son should undergo the Cross to save the human race, grant, we pray, that we, who have known his mystery on earth, may merit the grace of his redemption in heaven. See also: https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04529a.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_the_Cross https://catholicsaints.info/feast-of-the-exaltation-of-the-holy-cross/ https://www.christianiconography.info/goldenLegend/inventionHolyCross.htm |
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15th September - Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, formerly Our Lady of Ransom.
As the child's father and mother were wondering at the things being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Look, he is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is opposed - and a sword will pierce your soul too - so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare". The Seven Sorrows (or Dolors) are events in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary that are a popular devotion and are frequently depicted in art. These Seven Sorrows should not be confused with the five Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. They're often depicted as seven daggers stabbed into her heart. The prophecy of Simeon. (http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/2) The flight into Egypt. (http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/2) The loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem. (http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/2) Mary's meeting Jesus on the Via Dolorosa. (not in the New Testament) The Crucifixion of Jesus on Mount Calvary. (http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/27), (http://www.usccb.org/bible/mark/15), (http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/23), (http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/19) The Piercing of the Side of Jesus with a spear, and his descent from the Cross. (http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/19) The burial of Jesus by Joseph of Arimathea. (http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/27), (http://www.usccb.org/bible/mark/15), (http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/23), (http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/19) It is a tradition for Catholics to say daily one Our Father and seven Hail Marys for each mystery. O God, who willed that, when your Son was lifted high on the Cross, his Mother should stand close by and share his suffering, grant that your Church, participating with the Virgin Mary in the passion of Christ, may merit a share in his Resurrection. See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Sorrows |
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16th September - Memorial of St. Cornelius, Pope and Martyr and St. Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr. Nothing is known about Cornelius’ early life. His pontificate began in 251 his election having been delayed by the Decian persecution. The main problem that he faced during his short pontificate was not the persecution itself but the question of what to do with the Christians who had fallen away from the faith because of it. Novatian, a gifted Roman priest, opposed Cornelius’ policy of leniency maintaining that the Church had no power those who had lapsed during the persecution nor those who had committed murder or adultery or had contracted second marriages. In his stance Cornelius was strongly supported by Cyprian or Carthage, with whom he shares the feast, maintaining that the Church does have the power to forgive apostates and to admit them to communion after a suitable penance had been done. Cornelius died, tradition has it that he was beheaded, when the persecution of Christians resumed in 253. Cyprian was born in Carthage in c. 200 he converted to Christianity in c. 245. As a result he gave up all pagan writings and concentrated his studies on Scripture and the Christian commentaries, especially those of Tertullian, his compatriot. Within a few years of his conversion he was ordained to the priesthood and in 248 became bishop of his native Carthage by the choice of the people, the clergy and the consent of the neighbouring bishops. Almost immediately he was faced with the Decian persecution and had to flee to safety but continued to rule and encourage his flock by letter. During a subsequent persecution under Valerian, which required bishops, priests and deacons to take part in official pagan worship, Cyprian was exiled in 257 and after a second trial in 258 was executed. He is best known for his works including De Catholicae Ecclesiae Unitate (251) De Lapsis and De Habitu Virginum. O God, who gave Saints Cornelius and Cyprian to your people as diligent shepherds and valiant Martyrs, grant that through their intercession we may be strengthened in faith and constancy and spend ourselves without reserve for the unity of the Church. See also: https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04375c.htm https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04583b.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Cornelius https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprian https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0505.htm http://www.intratext.com/Catalogo/Autori/AUT128.HTM https://catholicsaints.info/pope-saint-cornelius/ https://catholicsaints.info/saint-cyprian-of-carthage/ https://www.christianiconography.info/goldenLegend/corneliusCyprian.htm |
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17th September - Memorial at choice of St. Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Born - 4 October 1542, Montepulciano Died - 17 September 1621 (aged 78), Rome, Papal States Venerated in - Catholic Church, Anglican Communion Beatified - 13 May 1923, Rome by Pope Pius XI Canonized - 29 June 1930, Rome by Pope Pius XI Major shrine - Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio, Rome, Italy Feast - 17 September; 13 May (General Roman Calendar, 1932–1969) Patronage - Bellarmine University; Bellarmine Preparatory School; Fairfield University; Bellarmine College Preparatory; St. Robert's School, Darjeeling; canonists; canon lawyers; catechists; Robert Barron (bishop); catechumens; Archdiocese of Cincinnati, An archbishop of Capua and later cardinal he was born in 1542 at Montepulciano in Tuscany he joined the Jesuits in 1560 and taught classics in Florence and Piedmont for several years before being ordained at Ghent in 1570. He then lectured on Thomas Aquinas’ “Summa Theologica” at Louvain. In 1576 he was appointed to a professorship at the Roman College where his lectures were the basis of the famous “Disputations on the Controversies of the Christian Faith” - a so complete defence of Catholic teaching that it was wrongly believed to be to be the work of a team of scholars. He became the Rector of the Roman College in 1592, provincial of Naples in 1594 and cardinal in 1598 becoming archbishop of Capua in 1602. Three years later he resigned his see when recalled to Rome to become Prefect of the Vatican Library and an active member of several Roman Congregations. In his old age he wrote books of devotion dying at the age of seventy-eight in 1621. O God, who adorned the Bishop Saint Robert Bellarmine with wonderful learning and virtue to vindicate the faith of your Church, grant, through his intercession, that in the integrity of that same faith your people may always find joy. See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Bellarmine |
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19th September - Memorial of St. Theodore of Canterbury, Bishop. Probably the most important Archbishop of Canterbury between St. Augustine and Lanfranc, Theodore was born in Tarsus in Cilicia, had been educated in Athens and was a monk by profession. St. Adrian, an African abbot, introduced Theodore to Pope Vitalian who was looking for a successor to Wighard as Archbishop of Canterbury. Adrian had been Pope Vitalian’s first choice but when he refused Theodore was chosen. Accompanied by Adrian and Benedict Biscop, Theodore arrived in England in 669. He made a visitation of most of the country, filled vacant sees, with Adrian set up an important school in Canterbury that would in time produce several bishops, and held the first synod of the Anglo-Saxon church in Hereford in 672. Its ten decrees were based on canons approved by the Council of Chalcedon. The important series of synods at the unidentified Clovesho were a result of Hereford. Theodore’s work was one of unification of the disparate elements of the Church in Anglo-Saxon England bringing together elements from Rome, Gaul and Ireland into a united whole. The school that he founded taught not only Latin and Greek (very rare at this time) but also Roman Law, the rules of metre, computistics, music and biblical exegesis of the literal school of Antioch. Theodore died in 690 and was buried close to St. Augustine at the monastery of St. Peter and St. Paul in Canterbury. In 1091, when his body was translated, it was found to be incorrupt. O God, you called your servant Saint Theodore to be a bishop amongst us and to set the Church on a firm foundation; grant, we pray, that through his intercession we may always remain steadfast to the rock which is Christ and be obedient to the calling which we have received. See also: https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14571a.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_of_Tarsus |