September marks the start of the new school year and a gradual return to the usual routine after the summer holidays. In the Catholic Church calendar, it is also a month particularly rich in feasts, saints’ days and celebrations dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
From the Nativity of the Virgin Mary to the feast of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, via the Glorious Cross, Our Lady of Sorrows, Saint Matthew and Saint Vincent de Paul, the month of September invites us to explore very different aspects of the Christian faith.
Some of these dates are universally celebrated by the Church, whilst others are the feasts of particularly popular saints.
Let’s discover the main Catholic feasts of September, their history, their significance and some ideas for living them out in prayer.
3 September: Saint Gregory the Great
On 3 September, the Church commemorates Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church.
Born in Rome in the 6th century, Gregory came from a prominent family. After holding various civil offices, he gradually chose to devote his life to God.
He became Pope in 590 during a particularly difficult period, marked by wars, epidemics and profound political upheavals.
Saint Gregory the Great remains famous for his pastoral work, his writings and his concern for the poorest members of society.
His name is also associated with Gregorian chant, although the history of this liturgical repertoire is more complex and developed over a long period.
3 September can be an opportunity to pray especially for the Pope, the bishops, the priests and all those who hold positions of responsibility in the service of the Church.
5 September: Saint Teresa of Calcutta, in the service of the poorest
On 5 September, the Church celebrates Saint Teresa of Calcutta, better known as Mother Teresa.
Born in 1910, she devoted her life to the poorest, the sick, the abandoned and those dying in solitude.
In Calcutta, India, she founded the Missionaries of Charity.
Her work gradually became known throughout the world.
Mother Teresa reminds us of an essential aspect of Christianity: loving God also means recognising the dignity of every person, particularly when they are vulnerable or rejected.
Her feast day can invite us to ask a very simple question:
Who can I do good for today?
A phone call, a visit, a favour, a few words of comfort or practical help can sometimes mean a great deal to someone who feels alone.
8 September: the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
8 September is one of the major Marian feasts of the month.
The Church celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that is to say, the birth of Mary.
The Gospels do not directly recount her birth. Ancient Christian tradition has handed down to us, in particular, the names of her parents: Saint Anne and Saint Joachim.
Why do we celebrate Mary’s birth?
Because this birth already heralds the imminent coming of Christ.
Mary is the one who will freely consent to become the Mother of Jesus.
At the Annunciation, she responds to the angel Gabriel with complete trust in God.
8 September is therefore a deeply joyful feast day.
We celebrate the birth of the one who will give Jesus Christ to the world.
This day is particularly fitting for entrusting to Mary our families and our children.
We can ask her to watch over those we love and to teach us, as she did, to trust in God.
12 September: the Holy Name of Mary
Just a few days after the celebration of her birth, the Church commemorates, on 12 September, the Holy Name of Mary.
The name Mary is one of the most significant in the entire history of Christianity.
For centuries, the faithful have invoked her in their prayers:
‘Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us...”
To utter Mary’s name in prayer is to turn to the one who always leads us to her Son.
This day can be observed very simply by reciting the Rosary or by confidently repeating a short invocation:
Mary, Mother of Jesus, pray for us.
14 September: the Glorious Cross
On 14 September, the Church celebrates the feast of the Glorious Cross, also known as the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
The Cross lies at the heart of the Christian faith.
An instrument of torture in ancient times, it has become for Christians the sign of Christ’s sacrifice, but also of his victory over death.
This is the very essence of the Christian message.
The Cross evokes the suffering and death of Jesus, but it cannot be separated from the Resurrection.
Good Friday leads to Easter morning.
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross thus invites us to look upon our own trials with hope.
This does not mean that suffering should be sought out or downplayed. It reminds us that, even in the midst of trial, Christians can continue to place their hope in God.
14 September can be an opportunity to spend a few moments before a crucifix and thank Christ for his love.
15 September: Our Lady of Sorrows
The day after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, on 15 September, the Church celebrates Our Lady of Sorrows.
This proximity in the calendar is particularly significant.
Having contemplated Christ on the Cross, we contemplate Mary standing by her Son.
Christian tradition meditates in particular on the seven sorrows of the Virgin Mary:
the prophecy of Simeon;
the flight into Egypt;
the loss of Jesus in the Temple;
Mary’s encounter with Jesus carrying his Cross;
the Crucifixion and death of Jesus;
the taking down of Jesus’ body from the Cross;
the placing in the tomb.
Mary therefore knows the suffering of a mother.
This is why many Christians turn to Our Lady of Sorrows when they are experiencing bereavement, illness, separation or great family distress.
15 September can be set aside in particular for prayer for all those who are suffering.
17 September: Saint Robert Bellarmine
On 17 September, the Church commemorates, amongst others, Saint Robert Bellarmine, bishop and Doctor of the Church.
Born in the 16th century, this Jesuit is known for his immense intellectual and theological work.
His life reminds us that the Christian faith does not exclude reflection and study.
Believing, seeking to understand and deepening one’s knowledge of the faith can all go hand in hand.
This day can be an invitation to open the Bible, to read a few pages of a spiritual book, or to explore an aspect of the faith that we do not yet fully understand.
20 September: the martyrs of Korea
On 20 September, the Church commemorates Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, Saint Paul Chong Hasang and their fellow martyrs.
The history of Christianity in Korea is particularly remarkable.
Christian communities there developed under difficult conditions and suffered severe persecution.
Many believers gave their lives rather than renounce their faith.
Their memory reminds us that the freedom to believe and practise one’s religion cannot always be taken for granted.
It also invites us to pray for all Christians who, even today, live out their faith in regions where they face discrimination or persecution.
21 September: Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
On 21 September, the Church celebrates Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist.
His story is particularly beautiful because it is one of a calling.
Matthew was working as a tax collector when he met Jesus.
In the Gospel, Jesus simply says to him:
‘Follow me.’
Matthew gets up and follows him.
This scene reminds us that God’s call can reach a person in the midst of their everyday life.
You do not need to be perfect before turning to God.
Matthew changes course because he agrees to answer Christ’s call.
His feast day invites us to ask ourselves:
What place do we give to Jesus in our lives?
23 September: Saint Padre Pio
On 23 September, the Church celebrates a figure particularly beloved by Catholics: Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, better known as Padre Pio.
Born in Italy in 1887, this Capuchin priest devoted his life to prayer, the celebration of the Eucharist and the sacrament of reconciliation.
Countless faithful came to meet him and go to confession with him.
Padre Pio is also known for having borne the stigmata.
His spirituality was deeply centred on Christ, prayer and trust in God.
Even today, millions of people around the world have a deep devotion to him.
His feast day on 23 September is a wonderful opportunity to entrust a difficult intention to him and to ask for his intercession.
27 September: Saint Vincent de Paul
On 27 September, the Church celebrates Saint Vincent de Paul.
Born in France at the end of the 16th century, he devoted much of his life to serving the poor.
He organised numerous charitable works and, together with Saint Louise de Marillac, founded the Daughters of Charity.
His influence was immense, and his name remains associated today with helping the most destitute.
Saint Vincent de Paul reminds us that Christian charity must not remain merely a good intention.
It must be put into practice.
Giving of one’s time.
Sharing.
Visiting someone who is lonely.
Helping a family in difficulty.
Listening to someone who is suffering.
The feast of Saint Vincent de Paul is thus an invitation to transform our faith into acts of love.
29 September: Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, the Archangels
29 September is one of the major feasts of the month: that of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.
Each of these three archangels holds a special place in the Holy Scriptures.
Saint Michael the Archangel
The name Michael traditionally means:
‘Who is like God?’
In the Book of Revelation, Saint Michael the Archangel fights the Dragon and the powers of evil.
He has thus become a major figure in spiritual warfare and protection within the Christian tradition.
Many of the faithful still recite the famous prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel today to ask for his help in the fight against evil.
Saint Gabriel the Archangel
Gabriel is the great messenger of the Annunciation.
It was he who came to the Virgin Mary and announced to her that she would give birth to Jesus.
His name is traditionally interpreted as:
‘ God is my strength.”
Gabriel is therefore associated with the proclamation of the Good News and the mystery of the Incarnation.
Saint Raphael the Archangel
Raphael features particularly prominently in the Book of Tobit.
He accompanies the young Tobit on his journey and acts as a guide and healer.
His name means:
‘God heals.’
Saint Raphael is thus traditionally invoked by travellers and the sick.
A prayer to the three Archangels
29 September is a wonderful opportunity to entrust our lives to the three Archangels.
We can ask Saint Michael to support us in our spiritual struggles, Saint Gabriel to help us receive the Word of God, and Saint Raphael to accompany those who are suffering and those who are travelling.
30 September: Saint Jerome, lover of the Holy Scriptures
The month draws to a close with another great figure of the Church.
On 30 September, we celebrate Saint Jerome, priest and Doctor of the Church.
He is particularly known for his immense work on the Holy Scriptures and for his Latin translation of the Bible.
Saint Jerome reminds us just how essential reading the Bible is to the Christian life.
We may sometimes have owned a Bible for years without actually opening it.
His feast day is therefore an excellent opportunity to resume this habit.
A few verses each day may suffice.
The key is not to rush through a large number of pages, but to allow the Word of God to gradually enter our lives.
September: a particularly rich month for Marian devotion
As we look through the September calendar, we notice the prominent place occupied by the Virgin Mary.
On 8 September, we celebrate her Nativity.
On 12 September, the Holy Name of Mary.
On 15 September, Our Lady of Sorrows.
These three dates allow us to contemplate different aspects of Mary.
Mary as a child, whose birth already heralds the coming of the Saviour.
Mary, whose name is invoked with confidence by Christians.
And Mary, Mother of Sorrows, faithful to Jesus even through the ordeal of the Cross.
September can therefore become a particularly favourable month for rediscovering or deepening one’s rosary prayer.
How can we live the month of September spiritually?
It is obviously not necessary to mark every day in a special way.
The liturgical calendar is, above all, there to accompany us on our journey of faith.
You may choose a few dates that resonate most with you or correspond to the intentions you wish to entrust.
On 8 September, entrust your family to the Virgin Mary.
On 14 September, take a few moments before the Cross of Christ.
On 15 September, pray for someone who is suffering.
On 23 September, entrust an intention to Padre Pio.
On 27 September, perform a concrete act of charity.
On 29 September, ask for the protection and guidance of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.
And on 30 September, open your Bible and take a few minutes to read the Word of God.
In this way, the feasts in the calendar are not merely dates: they become opportunities to bring prayer more fully into our daily lives.
Prayer for the month of September
Lord,
in this month of September,
we entrust to you our lives,
our families and all those we love.
Through the intercession of the Virgin Mary,
help us to move forward with confidence
along the path you have prepared for us.
Our Lady, watch over our families,
protect our children
and comfort those who are going through trials.
Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in our struggles
and keep us in peace.
Saint Gabriel the Archangel,
teach us to welcome the Word of God.
Saint Raphael the Archangel,
be with the sick,
travellers and those in need of comfort.
Through the intercession of Padre Pio,
Saint Vincent de Paul,
Saint Matthew
and all the saints celebrated this month,
help us to grow in faith,
charity and hope.
May this month of September
be for each of us
a new path towards your Son Jesus.
Amen.
A month of September under God’s watchful eye
The month of September thus offers us many opportunities to renew our spiritual life.
From the Nativity of the Virgin Mary on 8 September to the feast of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael on 29 September, each celebration reveals a different facet of the Christian faith.
Mary teaches us trust.
The Cross reminds us of Christ’s love.
Our Lady of Sorrows accompanies those who suffer.
Saint Matthew invites us to respond to Jesus’ call.
Padre Pio reminds us of the power of prayer.
Saint Vincent de Paul encourages us to turn our faith into practical charity.
Finally, the three Archangels remind us that God walks with his people and never abandons them.
So, in this month of September, let us take the time to pray, to love, to forgive and to draw closer to God.
May the Virgin Mary and all the saints celebrated in September intercede for us and for our families.
