September 2019 - Overview for the Month
The month of September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, whose memorial the Church celebrates on September 15. September falls during the liturgical season known as Ordinary Time, which is represented by the liturgical color green. This symbol of hope is the color of the sprouting seed and arouses in the faithful the hope of reaping the eternal harvest of heaven, especially the hope of a glorious resurrection. It is used in the offices and Masses of Ordinary Time.
The Protection of the Oceans: That politicians, scientists and economists work together to protect the world's seas and oceans. (See also http://www.popesprayerusa.net/)
The feasts on the General Roman Calendar celebrated during the month of September are:
1. Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday
3. St. Gregory the Great, Memorial
5. St. Teresa of Calcutta, Opt. Mem.
8. Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday
9. Peter Claver (USA), Memorial
12. Most Holy Name of Mary, Opt. Mem.
13. John Chrysostom, Memorial
14. Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Feast
15. Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday
16. Cornelius and Cyprian, Memorial
17. Robert Bellarmine, Opt. Mem.
19. Januarius, Opt. Mem.
20. Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang and Companions, Memorial
21. Matthew, Feast
22. Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday
23. Pio of Pietrelcina, Memorial
26. Cosmas and Damian, Opt. Mem.
27. Vincent de Paul, Memorial
28. Wenceslaus; Lawrence Ruiz and Companions; St. Simón de Rojas O.SS. (Spain), Opt. Mem.
29. Twenty-Six Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday
30. Jerome, Memorial
The Gospels for the Sundays in September 2019 are taken from St. Luke and are from Year C, Cycle 1.
September
1st -
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time |
In this Gospel Jesus tells the parable of the wedding banquet. |
September
8th - 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time |
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." |
September
15th - 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time |
This Gospel relates the parable of the Prodigal Son. |
September
22nd - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time |
-The parable of the wicked servant is the subject of this Gospel. |
September
29th - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time |
The Gospel tells the parable of Dives and Lazarus. |
During
September, as in all of Ordinary Time (formerly known as Time
After Pentecost), the Liturgy does not focus on one particular
mystery of Christ, but views the mystery of Christ in all its aspects.
We follow the life of Christ through the Gospels, and focus on the
teachings and parables of Jesus and what it means for us to be a
follower of Christ. During Ordinary Time we can concentrate more
on the saints and imitate their holiness as Christ's followers.
This month the main liturgical feasts are St. Gregory the Great (September 3), St. Peter Claver (September 9), Holy Name of Mary (September 12), St. John Chrysostom ( September 13), Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14), Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian (September 16), St. Robert Bellarmine (September 17), St. Januarius (September 19), St. Andrew Kim and Companions (September 20), St. Matthew (September 21), Sts. Cosmas and Damian (September 26), St. Pio (September 23), St. Vincent de Paul (September 27), and St. Jerome (September 30).
The feasts of the Birth of Mary (September 8), Our Lady of Sorrows (September 15), and Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (September 29) are superseded by the Sunday liturgy.
Since man is both a spiritual and physical being, the Church provides
for the needs of man in his everyday life. The Church's liturgy
and feasts in many areas reflect the four seasons of the year (spring,
summer, fall and winter). The months of August, September, October
and November are part of the harvest season, and as Christians we
recall God's constant protection over his people and give thanksgiving
for the year's harvest.
The September Ember Days were particularly focused on the end of the harvest season and thanksgiving to God for the season. Ember Days were three days (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) set aside by the Church for prayer, fasting and almsgiving at the beginning of each of the four seasons of the year. The ember days fell after December 13, the feast of St. Lucy (winter), after the First Sunday of Lent (spring), after Pentecost Sunday (summer), and after September 14, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (fall). These weeks were known as the quattor tempora, the "four seasons."
Since the late 5th century, the Ember Days were also the preferred dates for ordination of priests. So during these times the Church had a threefold focus: (1) sanctifying each new season by turning to God through prayer, fasting and almsgiving; (2) giving thanks to God for the various harvests of each season; and (3) praying for the newly ordained and for future vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Since the reorganization of the Roman calendar in 1969 after the Second Vatican Council, Ember Days are still retained in principle, but how and when they are to be observed is at the discretion of each country's Episcopal Conference. There is no longer set Mass readings for the Ember Days in the Ordinary Rite.
Another harvest feast is September 29, the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Before the revision of the calendar, this used to be only the feast of St. Michael. In many countries this day was referred to as "Michaelmas" and is celebrated with traditional foods and customs.
By Jennifer Gregory Miller, 2003.

Explanation of Ember Days—Three days set apart for fasting, abstinence, and prayer during each of the four seasons of the year. They were the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after St. Lucy (or Lucia, d. 304) (December 13), the First Sunday of Lent, Pentecost, and the feast of the Holy Cross (September 14). Since the revision of the Roman calendar in 1969, Ember Days are to be observed at the discretion of the National Conference of Bishops. Moreover, their observance may be extended beyond three days and even repeated during the year. Possibly occasioned by the agricultural feasts of ancient Rome, they came to be observed by Christians for the sanctification of the different seasons of the year, and for obtaining God's blessing on the clergy to be ordained during the Embertides. (Etym. Anglo-Saxon oemerge, ashes.) — Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, SJ, Doubleday, 1980.