September
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St. Gregory the Great (September 3rd)
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Pope Saint Gregory I, more commonly referred to as St. Gregory the Great, is one of the most influential Doctors of the Church, and is one of the 4 Great Latin Fathers, along with Ambrose, Augustine, and Jerome.
- Born around 540 in Rome to a wealthy family; his mother is St. Silvia of Rome
- Educated by some of the finest teachers in Rome
- Ordained a priest and worked under the pope in Rome; also served a few years in the East in Constantinople
- Became the Prefect of Rome, but then left the position, sold his possessions to build monasteries, and became a Benedictine monk
- In 590, Gregory was elected the 64th pope at the age of 50
- As pope, Gregory removed unworthy priests from office, especially if priests were not willing to go into the streets and care for the poor and needy
- He forbade taking money for services, and emptied the papal treasury to care for the imprisoned and the persecuted
- Sent St. Augustine of Canterbury and a group of monks to evangelize England
- Wrote many influential works on the Mass and the Divine Office (the Liturgy of the Hours), and reformed the liturgy in very positive ways
- Highly skilled at preaching and applying the Gospel to everyday life
- It is not entirely known if Gregory is responsible for establishing what we know today as “Gregorian Chant”
- Because of his great respect for the poor, it was Gregory and the Church that became the most respected and obeyed force in Rome and across Italy
- Died on March 12, 604 of natural causes; immediately proclaimed a saint
- He is a patron saint of singers, musicians, students, and teachers
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The Exaltation of the Holy Cross(September 14th, Feast)
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The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (or the Triumph of the Cross) commemorates first and foremost Christ’s salvific death on the Cross and His Resurrection. It also celebrates a few major events in Church history:
Early in the 4th century, St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, took a large group on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in search of the holy places of Christ’s life. This pilgrimage is the reason we have many 1st century relics today. She demolished a 2nd century pagan temple that was built on Calvary and over The Lord’s tomb, and Constantine built a basilica (the Martyrium) and a shrine (the Calvarium) on that site. During excavation, Helena discovered three crosses, one of which was believed to be the True Cross of Jesus Christ. Legend has it that Christ’s Cross was identified from the three when its touch healed a dying woman. After these events, Good Friday commemorations in the late 4th century began to include a veneration of the wood of the True Cross.
In 614, the Persians destroyed the basilica and the shrine. In 629, the Byzantine (East-Roman) Emperor Heraclius rebuilt the church and rescued and recovered the relic of the True Cross from the Persians and brought it back to Jerusalem.
In 1099, during the First Crusade, Jerusalem was liberated and taken back by the Crusaders after Muslim forces had destroyed the church and were persecuting Christian pilgrims to the Holy Lands. The basilica which stands today was rebuilt and reconsecrated by the Crusaders in 1149. This is known as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
This feast celebrates the mighty Holy Cross of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as an instrument of our salvation and a great and powerful sign of God’s Love for us.
Lift High the Cross!
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St. Padre Pio (September 23rd)
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On September 20, 1918, St. Padre Pio received a stigmata while praying in a church. Furthermore, the blood that came from Padre Pio's wounds is said to have smelled like flowers or perfume, referred to as "the odor of sanctity." He saw and spoke with Jesus, Mary, and his guardian angel as a young boy. At the age of 5, he consecrated himself to Jesus and at the age of 10, his family looked to see how he could become a Capuchin friar. Lastly, Padre Pio had the gift of bilocation, meaning he was able to be in multiple places at once. Perhaps the most famous claim is that he appeared in the sky over San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, during WWII.
St. Padre Pio, pray for us!
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Sts. Michael, Gabriel, & Raphael, Archangels (September 29th, Feast)
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Angels (messengers from God) appear frequently in Scripture, but only 3 are named: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. These 3 are commonly referred to as the Archangels.
St. Michael the Archangel
St. Michael the Archangel is the guardian of the Church, the protector of souls, and the leader of the army of God. The name Michael means “Who is like God?” In the Bible, he is mentioned in the Book of the prophet Daniel. He appears in Daniel’s vision as “the great prince” who defends Israel against its enemies (Daniel 10 & 12). He also is mentioned in the Letter of St. Jude, where he is said to have “pronounced a reviling judgment upon him [the devil] and said ‘May the Lord rebuke you!’” Also, in the Book of Revelation, Michael leads God’s armies to final victory over the forces of evil. Michael’s will is focused, immovable, and entirely driven toward accomplishing goodness, while wielding his powerful sword. He is said to have appeared to multiple people, including to the 3 children of Fatima in 1917 and to St. Faustina (he is quoted in her diary).
St. Michael, Prince of the Heavenly Host, defend us in battle! -
St. Gabriel the Archangel
St. Gabriel the Archangel is the great messenger of God. The name Gabriel means “God is my strength.” In the Book of Daniel, Gabriel appears to the prophet Daniel and explains the prophet’s visions relating to the Messiah (Daniel 8:16-26; 9:21-27). Gabriel also plays a very important role in salvation history. In the New Testament, he appears first to Zechariah in the temple to announce the coming of Zechariah’s son, John the Baptist (Luke 1:11-20). He then appears to the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Annunciation, where he hails Her and calls Her “full of grace,” and then announces the conception of Her Son, Jesus, who will be the savior of the world (Luke 1:26-38).
St. Gabriel, pray for us! -
St. Raphael the Archangel
St. Raphael the Archangel is the guide and protector of travelers. The name Raphael means “God is my health.” The only Biblical appearance of Raphael comes in the Book of Tobit, where Raphael travels with and guards Tobit’s son Tobiah through a series of adventures which lead to a glorious ending: Tobit’s blindness is healed by a touch of Raphael’s hand, Tobiah is happily and purely married to Sarah, and the family fortune is restored (see the Book of Tobit).
St. Raphael, pray for us!
Each of the archangels performs a different mission in Scripture: Michael protects, Gabriel announces, and Raphael guides. Each angel plays an integral part in salvation history. May the archangels strengthen us and always be our protectors.
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