Living the Liturgical Year Well: August and the Immaculate Heart of Mary
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The month of August is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Just as we prepare to resume our flurries of activities, the Church invites us to pause and recenter our lives close to the heart of our Mother Mary. The heart of a mother is a refuge to all of her children. A mother carries so much in her heart. From the little daily boo-boos to the heavy sorrows and sufferings of her children. She never abandons them, she is right there by their side, praying and interceding. As summer fades away in the hustle and bustle of back to school and activities, let’s sit with our mother, lean on her heart and entrust to her our upcoming school year.
Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
In June we contemplated Our Lord’s request to be devoted to His Sacred Heart through His messages to Saint Margaret Mary. For August let’s ponder on the message given by Jesus and our Lady to seers at Fatima. In July 1917, during our Lady’s apparition at Fatima to the little shepherds, Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco, she told them that God wished to establish in the world devotion to her Immaculate Heart. Here is what Mary requested of them, and of us:
“Look, my daughter, at my Heart, surrounded with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce me every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You at least try to console me and say that I promise to assist at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, shall confess, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary, and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me.”
Introducing the devotion into our lives
There seems to be a resurgence of this beautiful devotion and many more parishes now offer Mass and confessions on First Friday and First Saturday. To find a parish near you, look either on your diocesan website or on Catholic Mass Time (a great resource, especially when you are traveling). By starting this devotion in August you will have completed the First Five Saturdays by December. What a beautiful present to offer Our Lady just before Christmas! We seem to cycle through this devotion, as well as First Friday on and off fairly regularly. The fall seems to be a good time to complete it as we are less busy and there are less chances of the winter and spring sniffles.
August Solemnity
On August 15th we celebrate the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven, body and soul. It is a Holy Day of obligation as well as a solemnity. A solemnity is a feast of the highest importance, it is often a mystery of faith. They include Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, the Ascension, the Immaculate Conception, the titles of Our Lord, and of course the Assumption, to name a few.
Some are Holy Days of obligation but not all. But all treated just like a Sunday in the liturgy. This means that there will be three readings during Mass, Old Testament, Psalm, New Testament. The prayer of the faithful will be present. The Creed and the Gloria will be recited (even if the solemnity occurs during Advent or Lent). Prayers specific to that day will also be present during the liturgy such as an entrance antiphon, an opening prayer, an exclusive prayer over the gifts, a Communion antiphon and a prayer after Communion. The priest will most likely wear white vestments on that day as well, representing joy and purity. So on solemnities let us celebrate like it is Sunday! And if possible, rest like it is Sunday.
August’s Feast
On August 6th, we celebrate the feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord. A feast is just a little lower than a solemnity. It also honors many of the titles of Our Lord and of Our Lady as well as some of the most special saints such as the Apostles and saints that have had a great historical importance. Similarly to a solemnity their importance shines through the liturgy of the Mass. Exclusive prayers will be present but only two readings will be read and the Gloria recited.
The priest will wear white vestments, unless it is the feast of a martyr, such as Saint Lawrence, in which case red will be worn. These special days honoring Our Lord, His mother and the saints also call for a special celebration, even if it is a lesser one than for a solemnity. Feasts will be superseded by the Sunday liturgy if they fall on a Sunday as is the case for Saint Bartholomew this year, on August 24th. But we will still mark his feast day in our quest of visiting with all the Apostles.
August’s memorials
So many amazing saints are honored and remembered in August, I had to pick and choose a few to highlight for this year, saving others for next year. There are two different memorials: the obligatory memorial and the optional memorial. The obligatory memorial is recognized during the liturgy of the Mass. The priest will mention the name of the saint and his vestments will testify to this saint: red for martyrs and white for non-martyrs. However, mentioning the name of the saint is not mandatory if the feast is an optional memorial, it is left up to the priest.
In our family we acknowledge obligatory memorials by having dessert :). Being in the kitchen is not my favorite, therefore desserts are only served on special occasions such as memorials, feast, solemnities, birthdays and anniversaries. It has been a very nice way to celebrate and honor the saints and we always look forward to a good feast day celebration.
August 4th: St. John Vianney, memorial
Saint John Mary Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests. Today is a great day to pray especially for our priests.
Picture book: John Mary Vianney: the Holy Cure of Ars, by Sophie de Mullenheim.
Dessert: Black and white layer cake to represent the light triumphing over the darkness.
In depth study: Saint John Mary Vianney is featured in all of the August 2025 booklists, so if you do not have a subscription now is the time! Come and explore the life of this amazing priest.
August 11th: St. Clare, memorial
Saint Clare is especially dear to my heart since a lovely honeymoon trip to Assisi where I really got to encounter this amazing woman! She is a beautiful saint on her own, but likes to hide in Saint Francis’ shadow.
Picture book: Clare and Francis, by Guido Visconti, illustrated by Bimba Landmann.
Dessert: Saint Clare’s Cheesecake.
August 20th: St. Bernard, memorial
Book: This is definitely not a picture book. It is a hefty chapter book but it is one the most cherished memories my kids and I have. Even though I grew up very close to Clairvaux I did not really know Saint Bernard until we read The Family that Overtook Christ by M. Raymond O.C.S.O. This is one of the best stories of the saints you will ever read. I highly recommend it!
Dessert: Nonnettes de Dijon. These “little nuns” are a delicious Burgundian specialty.
August 22nd: Queenship of Mary, memorial
Picture book: Take it to the Queen: A Tale of Hope, by Josephine Nobisso, illustrated by Katalin Szegedi.
Dessert: Queen Cakes. These small individual cakes, made popular during the reign of Queen Victoria are absolutely perfect to celebrate the queenship of Our Lady! The only thing that could make them more perfect is baking them in these molds and arranging them in a crown.
August 24th: St. Bartholomew, superseded by Sunday Liturgy
Saint Bartholomew is our Apostle for this month. His feast is superseded by the Sunday liturgy but could still be celebrated either on Saturday or Monday. I have a hard time with Saint Bartholomew. His feast day is always a reminder to me of the Saint Bartholomew Massacre of 1572. On that fateful day, Catholic leaders spurred a massacre of the Huguenots, protestants, which intensified the French Wars of Religion.
Picture book: The Twelve Apostles by Mariana Mayers.
Activities: Apostles ID cards and peg dolls.
Dessert: Saint Bartholomew Honey Cake, to sweeten the memory of the tragic events that took place on his feast day.
Wishing you a wonderful and blessed month of August and full of holy celebrations!
Love,
Mattie
