Living the Liturgical Year Well: September – Our Lady of Sorrows
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The month of September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows. It might seem a strange dedication for a month that contains both Our Lady’s birthday and the feast of her Holy Name. It is so easy to spend time contemplating the joy of Our Lady at the Nativity. But contemplating her sufferings? That is a whole other matter… And sharing it with our children is even more difficult. But fear not, our children’s ability for empathy is much greater than we give them credit for. So this month let’s contemplate the Sorrows of Our Lady, together, as a family.
Encountering Our Lady of Sorrows
Having grown up in the 90s I was vaguely familiar with the Rwandan genocide when I came across Immaculee Ilibagiza’s book Left to Tell. As vague memories of the genocide swirled in my mind I picked up the book and started reading it. This was the beginning of a new spiritual journey as unexpected as it could be. Through Left to Tell I discovered not only the traumatic yet beautiful story of Immaculee but also a new devotion to Our Lady under the title of Our Lady of Sorrows. It is funny to me as for our wedding we had been given an icon of Our Lady of Sorrows, but I found it too dark and forbidding and donated it to our local parish. I have never regretted anything more. So I was intrigued by this devotion and started praying the Seven Sorrows
chaplet.
September and Our Lady of Sorrows
The month of September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, which I discovered around the same time as I was reading Left to Tell. I must have been reading it over the summer as I remember vividly the first time I prayed the Chaplet of Our Lady of Sorrows on September 1st. At first I prayed it alone, then invited my husband, as we were struggling through some job and financial decisions at the time. But it never crossed my mind to involve our little ones at the time. Then one evening as we were praying together the pitter patter of little feet were heard and a little one joined us. And from then on we prayed the Chaplet to Our Lady of Sorrows together as a family. And every September, we trade the traditional Rosary for the Chaplet to Our Lady of Sorrows.
Our Lady of Sorrows for children
This year I have discovered a new picture book: Devotion to Mary’s Seven Sorrows for Children: Our Lady of Sorrows, by Patrick O’Hearn, illustrated by Adalee Hude. And I am so excited about it! This gentle and beautiful picture book is the perfect means to introduce little ones to the Sorrows of Our Lady! I am almost tempted to buy a second copy to cut out the illustrations and frame each of the seven Sorrows separately… This picture book with its simple meditation and prayers is a beautiful introduction to the devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows.
The picture book
Each Sorrow is introduced by a double page with an image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the left and the quote from the Gospel corresponding to the Sorrow. Each time the Immaculate Heart has one more sword piercing it and is surrounded by a different flower. The following double page spread contains a beautiful full page illustration of the Sorrow, a small meditation coming from Our Lady herself talking to us, a Hail Mary, in both English and Latin, and a short prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows.
This is so simple, so beautiful and easily understood by all ages. I am looking forward to sharing it with my children come September 1st.
Marian flowers
Each of the flowers depicted behind the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a very special Marian flower. This could easily become a deep rabbit hole (one I often visit and revisit…)
Behind the first Sorrow is a Begonia, also known as Mary’s Heart.
The second Sorrow is an Iris: Mary’s Sword of Sorrows.
The third has delicate Forget-me-Nots, also known as Mary’s Eyes.
For the fourth Sorrow, the Dog Rose, Mary’s Thorn.
For the fifth Sorrow, Our Lady’s Tears are represented by the Lily of the Valley.
Mary’s Bitter Sorrow is depicted by the Dandelion.And the seventh and last Sorrow by the Bleeding Heart, showing Mary’s own bleeding Heart.
The University of Dayton, OH has a wonderful website with a lot of information on Marian flowers. It is so wonderful. They also have this lovely Marian flowers memory game.
September Feasts
We have three beautiful feasts in September:
September 8th: Nativity of Our Lady
Picture book: Mary, the Mother of Jesus, Tomie dePaola – This is always my go to for Marian feasts as it is so beautiful.
Activity: On that day we usually try to go to Mass, pray the Rosary of our Lady’s intentions and in thanksgiving for her birth.
Treat: A birthday cake, of course!
We also have a birthday in our house on that day, so my daughter has to share her cake with Our Lady.
September 14th: The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Picture book: The Legend of the Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt, illustrated by Tim Jonke
Activity: With the days shortening I find it a wonderful time to put a stained glass cross on our west facing window and to see the sunlight project this cross in our living room throughout the day. A beautiful reminder of God’s love for us.
Treat: Simple cross shaped Chocolate Sugar Cookies are an easy and quick treat to celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Beautiful Cross cookie cutters help make this treat more festive and you can also decorate it.
September 29th: The Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael
Picture book: 57 Saints by Eileen Hefferman, FSP has a great chapter on the Archangels, but it is not a picture book. I am still looking for one on the Archangels…
Activity: Archangel peg dolls would be fantastic! Catholic Culture has many details on the archangels here. You could also create a poster with all three Archangels, their patronage, attributes, symbols and prayers.
Treat: Angel Food Blackberry Trifle sounds absolutely delicious and perfectly fallish for this feast!
Memorials
On September 5th we celebrate the life of Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta and on September 17th, that of Saint Hildegard of Bingen. Find out more about these two saints in the September Booklover and Bookworm booklists!
September 15th: Our Lady of Sorrows
See blog post above.
September 18th: St Joseph of Cupertino
Picture book: The Little Friar Who Flew, by Patricia Lee Gauch, illustrated by Tomie DePaola
Activity: Please, do not try to fly! But you could go for a birding walk, admiring the winged creatures of God.
Treat: Enjoy some Bocconotti, a treat from Apulia, the region of Italy where Cupertino is located.
September 21st: Saint Matthew, superseded by the Sunday liturgy this year.
Picture book: The Twelve Apostles by Mariana Mayers
Activities:
– Apostles ID cards
– Peg dolls
Food: I love the idea of Homemade PayDay Bars to celebrate Saint Matthew! How fun!
September 23rd: Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
Picture book: Padre Pio: Pray, Hope and Don’t Worry. Not a picture book but a wonderful tale of Saint Pio’s life by The Merry Beggars.
Activity: Create a beautiful holy card of Padre Pio while listening to his story.
Treat: Celebrate Padre Pio with a delicious Italian dinner!
Do not forget to download your Liturgical Board Printables!
Wishing everyone a blessed and bountiful month of September! Our lady of Sorrows, pray for us!
Love,
Mattie
