SEPTEMBER: MONTH OF THE SEVEN SORROWS AND OF THE HOLY CROSS

September is truly a special month, with the month dedicated to the Seven Sorrows and the Holy Cross. In fact, September has five Marian Feasts, a Feast of an Archangel (Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel), also one Apostle (Saint Matthew), and celebrates other remarkable saints such as Saint Pope Pius X, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, Saint Peter Claver, Saint Francis (the impression of the Stigmata), Saint Joseph Cupertino, Saint Januarius, Saint Eustace, and Saint Jerome, where the faithful can learn much about liturgical piety, incredible acts (including even literally levitating!), miracles, and sacrifices.

Given the primary feasts of September though, it is fitting to perhaps start with the Nativity of Our Lady on September 8^th. Even though there are a multitude of feasts that are kept in the Church’s calendar, there are only three feastdays which are birthdays, and these are kept because of their sinlessness – the Birthday of Our Lady is a day of devotion, because she was immaculate even in her conception.

Our Lady is Heaven’s gift to mankind, born for the salvation of all men. She was born to Saints Joachim and Anne, in a town of Galilee, Nazareth, and was of the tribe and family of David. Saint Bernard tells us that Our Lady was the masterpiece of all the ages, and none of the daughters of Israel could ever compare with her in the marvellous virtues in which she was enriched. The holy angels hover round the cradle of the Queen; Heaven and earth are filled with joy.

Our Lady intercedes for us, in taking our prayers to her Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. And it is she who guides our actions, so it is ever-the-more necessary for us to come to Jesus through Mary, as a sure way to Heaven. We should particularly receive Our Lord in Holy Communion on her birthday, as a present to Our Lady, in honour of Our Lady’s birth that makes our salvation possible, and also to ask Our Lady for many graces for ourselves and for others.

Following on from Our Lady’s Feastday on September 8^th, it would also seem proper to highlight the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary on September 12^th, with some reflections by Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (slightly edited for readability):

Just as the salvation of the world began with the Ave Maria (Angelic Salutation, Hail Mary), so the salvation of each individual is bound up with it. This prayer... brought to a dry and barren world the Fruit of Life, and if well said, will cause the Word of God to take root in the soul and bring forth Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Fruit of Life... the Ave Maria is a heavenly dew which waters the earth of our soul and makes it bear its fruit in due season. The soul which is not watered by this heavenly dew bears no fruit but only thorns and briars, and merits only God’s condemnation...

We know from experience that those who show positive signs of being among the elect, appreciate and love the Ave Maria and are always glad to pray it. The closer they are to God, the more they love this prayer... I do not know how this should be, but it is perfectly true; and I know no surer way of discovering whether a person belongs to God, than by finding out if s/he loves praying the Ave Maria and the Holy Rosary...

It is the perfect compliment the most High God paid to Our Lady through His Archangel, in order to win her Heart. So powerful was the effect of this greeting upon Our Lady, on account of its hidden delights, that despite her great humility, she gave her consent to the incarnation of the Word. If you pray the Ave Maria properly, this compliment will infallibly earn you Our Lady’s good will.

(Exaltation of) The Holy Cross – 14^th September

Dom Guéranger was Abbot of Solesmes from 1837–1875 and one of the leading monastics and liturgists of his generation, with his writings highly influential both in France and abroad. Pope Pius IX credited Dom Guéranger with three great accomplishments (in his eulogy). These included the revival of the monastic tradition in France, the restoration of the Roman Liturgy and Gregorian Chant (40 years after the French Revolution and suppression of the Benedictine order), and the theological justification for two dogmatic definitions (that of the Immaculate Conception, and the infallibility of the Roman Pontiff). Even Saint Thérèse of Lisieux immersed herself in his book when she was growing up. These are his reflections on the Holy Cross of Our Lord (slighted edited for context):

Consider first, that on this day, upon occasion of the recovery of the Cross of Christ out of the hands of infidels, and the triumphant setting it up again in its place in the Church of Mount Calvary, the Church of God celebrates the exaltation of Him that died for us upon the Cross, and His glorious triumph over sin and death, and over all the powers of hell and in consequence thereof the establishment of His kingdom, by which He reigns by Grace at present in the souls of all His servants throughout the world, and shall reign in them for all eternity hereafter in glory. According to that of St. John xii. 31, 32, spoken with relation to His victory on the Cross, ‘Now is the judgment’ (that is, the condemnation,) ‘of the world, now shall the prince of this world’ (the devil) ‘be cast out.’ ‘And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to myself.’ Rejoice, O my soul, in the triumph of thy crucified king, and beg that He would establish His reign in thee, and draw up thy heart from this wretched earth and unite it forever to Himself.

Consider secondly, that the dispositions of a Christian, in order to celebrate in a proper manner, the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, ought to be suitable to the maxims of the Cross, and to the dispositions of Christ crucified. Dispositions of standing off from the pride, ambition, avarice, and vanity of the world, condemned by the poverty and humility of the Cross; as also from the love of sensual and worldly pleasures, condemned by the mortification of the Cross. Dispositions of taking up our crosses and following our Crucified King, even to the death of the Cross. Dispositions of waging a perpetual war against that triple concupiscence, which separates worldlings from the Cross of  Christ, viz., the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; till dying to the world and to ourselves, we be lifted up with Christ from the earth; crucified to the world, and the world to us; and thus being entitled to a share in His exaltation and triumphs. But, O my soul, how unfit are we to celebrate the victories of our Crucified King over death, sin, and hell; whilst we by pride, self-love, and the love of the world wilfully remain slaves to those same enemies, whose usurpation He sought to abolish by His death!

Consider thirdly, the sentiments of Saint Paul with relation to the Cross of Christ, Gal. ii. 19, 20, ‘With Christ I am nailed to the cross.’ ‘And I live, now not I, but Christ liveth in me; who loved me and delivered himself for me.’ Chap. vi. 14: ‘God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world!’ He tells the Corinthians, 1 Cor. ii. 2, ‘that he judged not himself to know anything among them but Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.’ and Chap. i. 23, 24, that he preached nothing but ‘Christ crucified a stumbling-block to the Jews, and foolishness to the Gentiles; but to the true believers the power of God, and the wisdom of God.’ He proposes his own conduct as a model to the Philippians, Philip. iii. 17, 18, and warns them with tears, against all sensual and earthly-minded Christians, whom he calls enemies of the Cross of Christ. Oh, how high was the Cross of Christ exalted in the heart of the Apostle! It reigned there without control. And as it was exalted in him by love and esteem, so it exalted him here to the glorious fellowship of the sufferings of Christ crucified; and hereafter to that eternal kingdom which Our Lord has purchased by His cross, for all the true friends and followers of the Cross. O how happy are all they, that, like the Apostle, are sincere lovers of the Cross of Christ!

And a meditation by Dom Guéranger:

Conclude for thy own practice to honour the triumphs of thy Crucified King, by planting thyself at the foot of His Cross, and there constantly attend to Him, and study well the lessons He teaches thee from His Cross, and enter into all His sentiments. He will teach thee to submit to thy crosses with patience, to undergo them with cheerfulness, yea, to embrace them with joy. He will undeceive thee, with regard to the false maxims of worldly pride, of the love of riches, and of sensual pleasures; and from His Cross will preach to thee His Truths, and discover to thee the lovely charms that are found in humility, poverty of spirit, contempt of the world, and mortification of the flesh. His Cross is the school in which He will teach thee all good, and from which He will not cease to communicate to thee all Grace, till at length He draws thee to Himself, and makes thee His own for ever.

In addition to these beautiful words by Dom Guéranger, Saint Augustine calls the Crucifix the ‘Book of the Elect.’ One will find untold consolation and wisdom in the study of the Crucifix, particularly when considering the undying love of Our Lord for us in His Sacred Passion and Death. How excellent the reward God shall bestow upon those who, during life, consoled and comforted Him upon the Cross.

One can learn more from the Crucifix than from any spiritual book. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself wrote the Book of the Crucifix. He wrote it with His wounds, and with His Blood. When consummated, He dedicated it to us. So, should we not familiarise ourselves with what Our Lord wrote, because if a renowned author was to dedicate one of their books to each one of us, would we not gladly familiarise ourselves with what they wrote, let alone how much should our love and esteem be for the greatest of all books written by God, Himself, the Crucifix? God the Father wrote the book of the world. In it we read numberless lessons of His power, but He left it to His Divine Son to write the Book of the Cross. It is incomprehensible to think what would become of the world were it not redeemed by the Cross. As all the saints read the Book of the Cross and grew in virtues, so let us take inspiration to do the same.

For some easy acts of reparation to Our Lord on the Cross:

• Kiss your Crucifix lovingly (in reparation for the kiss of the traitor, Judas);
• Keep silence when falsely accused (in reparation for the false accusation made against Our Lord);
• When genuflecting, offer it in reparation for those who mocked Our Lord as a false king;
• Take care to bow your head reverently at the Holy Name of Jesus (in reparation for the defiant wagging of heads of those beneath the Cross);
• Try to deny yourself something in taste for food/drink (in reparation for the sins which caused Our Lord His terrible thirst);
• Follow the priest in the ceremonies of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass devoutly, offering the Holy Mass in reparation for the insults Our Lord received at His death; and,
• Accept each cross Our Lord sends (as a means of making reparation for our own sins, and the sins of others).

Here is a prayer to the Holy Cross for the month of September:

Hail, O Holy Cross! My light and my strength! Hail, standard of peace empurpled by the Blood of Jesus and ornamented by His Sacred Members as with precious stones! O Venerable Cross, work of the love of God and the cruelty of men! O Cross, the terror of Hell and the object of the veneration of Heaven and earth, receive the homage of my faith, my gratitude, and my love! I consecrate myself entirely to Thee and I attach myself to Thee forever, as my Saviour was attached to Thee for love of me. I earnestly beseech Thee, in virtue of the Precious Blood which empurpled Thee, to take me under Thy protection, to be my support in suffering, my strength in temptation, my counsel in doubt, my light in darkness, my rule of conduct during life, my confidence and pledge of salvation at the hour of death.

The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Septem Dolorum Beatæ Mariæ Virginis) – 15th September

Our Lady of Sorrows (Beata Maria Virgo Perdolens), Our Lady of Dolours, the Sorrowful Mother, or Mother of Sorrows (Mater Dolorosa), and Our Lady of Piety, Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, or our Lady of the Seven Dolours, are names by which the Blessed Virgin Mary is referred to in relation to the sorrows in her life.

The central role of Our Lady enables our salvation, which began when the Archangel Gabriel spoke the name of Mary. To be Christian, is to carry on that Annunciation unceasingly. Saint Louis de Montfort wrote that ‘the salvation of each individual is bound up with the Hail Mary.’ This prayer, that names the holy name of the Mother of God ‘brought to a dry and barren world the Fruit of Life. It will cause the Word of God to take root in the soul and bring forth Jesus.’ The holy name of Mary bears such power because of the unique bond between Mother and Son, so to accept the divine privilege of speaking the name of Mary is to participate in that saving union between Our Lady and Our Lord.

The Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows grew in popularity in the 12th Century (although under various titles). By the 14th and 15th Centuries, the Feast and devotion were widespread throughout the Church. In 1727, Pope Benedict XIII extended a Feast commemorating the sorrowful Virgin Mary to the whole of the Latin Church, assigning to its celebration the Friday in Passion Week, one week before Good Friday. The devotion was also extended by Pope Pius VII in 1815 and introduced into the Missal and Breviary.

In order to keep the inexpressible sufferings endured for us by the Mother of God whilst she lived here on earth with her Divine Son, the Church observes two feasts in honour of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady. The Feast of Friday of Sorrows remains a solemn pious remembrance of the sorrowful Blessed Virgin Mary on the Friday before Palm Sunday during Passion Week, and the other is on September 15^th.

Devotional prayers that consist of meditation began to elaborate on Our Lady’s Seven Sorrows, based on the prophecy of Simeon: ‘Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted. And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed’ (St. Luke 2:34–35).

Common examples of piety under this title are the Rosary of Our Lady of Sorrows – Servite Rosary, or the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady. Like all rosaries, the Rosary of Our Lady of Sorrows is a meditation of the mystery-events of God’s love for us as reflected in the life of Our Lord and Our Lady. Such a Rosary particularly invites us to meditate on those times in the life of Our Lady when she experienced the pain and suffering that tested her faith and invited her to a full sharing of the mystery of God’s salvation in her Son.

In terms of the Seven Sorrows, they include:

1. Our Lady’s grief upon hearing the words of Holy Simeon at the Presentation in the Temple (The Prophecy of Simeon – St. Luke 2:34–35: ‘And thine own soul a sword shall pierce.’);
2. Our Lady’s anxiety for the life of her Divine Child during the Flight into Egypt (The Flight into Egypt – St. Matthew 2:13);
3. Our Lady’s grief of soul when losing Our Lord for three long days (The Loss of Our Lord in the Temple – St. Luke 2:43–45);
4. Our Lady’s anguish upon seeing Our Lord bearing the heavy cross (Our Lady meets Our Lord on the way to Calvary);
5. Our Lady’s agony of soul as she stood at the Foot of the Cross beholding Our Lord die (Our Lord dies on the Cross – St. John 19:25);
6. Our Lady’s sorrow upon receiving the lifeless Body of Our Lord into her arms (Our Lady Received the dead body of Our Lord – St. Matthew 27:57–59); and,
7. Our Lady’s desolation at seeing the Body of Our Lord disappear from her sight at His burial (Our Lord is laid in the tomb – St. John 19:40–42).

And some reflections by Blessed Henry Suso may also prove helpful and emotive:

For how much, O my heart, ought they to move thee in all thy depths, the sorrows and afflictions of so loving a Saviour hanging upon the cross, and yet decreeing, for us alone, that we who were once enfolded in the darkness of our sins have now been led back again to the light, with the help of the Mother of God. It is fitting to suffer with such a Mother standing by the Cross, bearing in her heart to the full the boundless sorrow of her suffering Son, and in some way, more special and more particular, to endure with her all that our innermost hearts could feel. It is indeed just that we, who in our miseries are constantly consoled by her, should also suffer with her in her sorrows. And even if we may not suffer with her as we should, at least, by calling to mind her dolour, let us stir up in faith, so far as we can, our heart’s devotion.

And, for some prayers to Our Lady of Sorrows:

O sorrowful Virgin, unite me at least to the humiliations and wounds of thy Son, so that both He and thee may find comfort in having someone sharing thy sufferings. Oh, how happy I would be if I could do this! For is there perhaps anything greater, sweeter, or more advantageous for a person? Why dost thou not grant me what I ask? If I have offended thee, be just and pierce my heart. If I have been faithful to thee, leave me not without a reward: give me thy sorrows.

– Saint Bonaventure (to the Mother of Sorrows)

O afflicted Virgin, O soul great in virtues, as in sorrows, both the one and the other spring from that great fire burning in thy heart for God, the only love of thy heart!

Mother, have pity on me, who has not loved God, and who has so greatly offended Him. Thy sorrows, it is true, assure me of pardon, but that is not sufficient. I wish to love God. Who could obtain for me that grace if not thee, who are the Mother of holy love! O Mary, Thou consolest everyone; favour me also, with thy consolations. Amen.

– Saint Alphonsus de Liguori

Sources/Resources/Links:
True Restoration/Roman Catholic Media (MHT sermons) links for the Holy Cross:

• Sermon: The Exaltation of the Holy Cross, by Bishop Sanborn, 15 September 2014
• Sermon: The Invention of the Holy Cross, by Bishop Sanborn, 3 May 2015
• Sermon: The Holy Cross, by (the then) Reverend Mr. Eldracher, 14 March 2016
• Sermon: The Holy Cross & the Restoration of Man, by Bishop Sanborn, 15 May 2016
• The Holy Cross, 3 May 2017
• The Finding of the Holy Cross, by Father Francis Xavier Weninger, 1877
• Sermon: The Holy Cross, by Father Despósito, 3 May 2020
• Sermon: The Finding of the Holy Cross, by Father Eldracher, 9 May 2020
• Season 11, May 2022 Course: Why the Cross?, 3 May 2022 (Various episodes - Fr Trauner):

Episode 1, Why the Cross? Frenetic Intemperance

Episode 2, Why the Cross? The Christian Life

Episode 3, Why the Cross? The Role of Religion

Episode 4, Why the Cross? Our Lord Jesus Christ

Episode 5, Why the Cross? Our Daily Lives

Episode 6,Why the Cross? The Role of Suffering

Episode 7, Why the Cross? Happiness

Episode 8, Why the Cross? What Must I Do?

• Way of the Cross - Saint Alphonsus, to purchase
• The Stations or Holy Way of the Cross, to purchase
• The Sign of the Cross - Msgr. Gaumé to purchase

True Restoration/Roman Catholic Media (MHT sermons) links for Our Lady of Sorrows:

• The Flagship Show, Episode 27: September, the Month of Our Lady, 11 September 2013  - Bishop Dolan
• We are Stony-hearted Beasts, 15 September 2014
• From the TR site, The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 4/11/2014
• Behold My Anguish and 6th Discourse, 8 September 2016; Why should we Console Mary?
• From the Pulpit, Episode 46: Reparation for Sin and Our Lady’s Seven Sorrows, 8 April 2017
• Video Sermon: She Shall Crush Thy Head, by Bishop Sanborn, 15 September 2019
• Sermon: Juxta Crucem, by Reverend Mr. Petrizzi, 15 September 2019
• Glories of Mary – Book Review, 31 October 2019
• To purchase the book, ‘Glories of Mary’ by Saint Alphonsus de Liguori: https://truerestoration.org/press/glories-of-mary/.
• At the Foot of the Cross, or the Sorrows of Mary – Book Review, 8 September 2020 (by Father Frederick William Faber, D.D.)
• To purchase the book, 'At the Foot of the Cross or the Sorrows of Mary'
• Our Lady in Doctrine and Devotion, Episode 10: Our Lady and the Childhood of Our Lord, 12 August 2022
• To purchase the book, 'Mary, Help of Christians: and the Fourteen Saints Invoked as Holy Helpers,'

Others:

•  Ingruentium Malorum, Encyclical of Pope Pius XII on reciting the Rosary (noting this is non-specific to the actual Feast of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, but nevertheless important), as given in Rome, at Saint Peter’s, the 15 September 1951, on the Feast of the Seven Sorros of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Other encyclicals on the Holy Rosary, in general:
" Consueverunt Romani Pontifices, papal bull by Pope Pius V issued on 17 September 1569 (instituted the essence of the Holy Rosary’s present configuration).
" Supremi apostolates officio, the first of Pope Leo XIII’s many encyclicals on the Holy Rosary (12 in fact, from 1 September 1883–5 September 1898), issued on 1 September 1883.
" Superiore anno, encyclical issued by Pope Leo XIII on 30 August 1884 ‘On the Recitation of the Rosary’.
" Octobri mense, encyclical issued by Pope Leo XIII on 22 September 1891 (with the subject being the power of prayer and the efficacy of the Holy Rosary).

• Pope Pius VII in 1815 (1740–1823) composed the Litany of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady, while held in captivity during the Napoleonic Wars.
• Saint Bridget of Sweden (1303–1373) reported that Our Lady promised to grant seven Graces to those who honour her and draw near to her and her Son ever day by meditating on her dolours (sorrows).
• -  Prayers/Litany for the Feast of the (Exaltation of the) Holy Cross

• Prayers/Litanies/Novena for the Feast of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady: Novena: In Honour of the Seven Sorrows and  Novena: Seven Dolours

Return to Index