Opening Prayer for September
Most Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our loving Mother,
As we enter this blessed month of September, we consecrate ourselves to you.
Help us to contemplate your sorrows that we might better understand the price of our redemption. Guide us as our Divine Shepherdess when we stray from the path of righteousness. Through your most holy name, may we find strength in times of trial and joy in times of blessing.
Blessed Mother, as pilgrims have sought you at countless shrines throughout the centuries, we too come before you with open hearts. Present our prayers to your Son Jesus, and obtain for us the graces we need to grow in holiness this month.
We place ourselves under your maternal mantle and ask you to lead us ever closer to Jesus. May this September be a time of deeper devotion, greater trust, and renewed commitment to following your Son.
Amen.
September 1: Collection of all the Feasts of Our Lady (Louvain) This unique feast celebrates all Marian devotions collectively in one observance. It originated at Louvain as a way to honor Mary under all her various titles and aspects.
September 2: Our Lady of Helbron, Germany (1442) This German shrine became a place of pilgrimage after miraculous events in 1442. Devotees seek Mary's intercession for healing and protection at this sacred site.
September 3: Our Lady of the Divine Shepherd, France Mary is venerated as the Divine Shepherd who guides and protects the faithful like a loving shepherdess. This French devotion emphasizes her maternal care and guidance for souls.
September 4: Our Lady of Haut (Belgium, 1419) This Belgian shrine commemorates Mary's miraculous restoration of life to a young woman in 1419. The site became renowned for extraordinary healings and divine interventions.
September 5: Our Lady of the Woods, Galloro (1621) Located in a wooded area, this Italian shrine honors an apparition from 1621. Pilgrims come to this peaceful forest sanctuary seeking Mary's maternal blessing.
September 6: Our Lady of the Fountain, Valenciennes, France This devotion centers around a miraculous fountain associated with the Virgin Mary. The site became a place where the faithful seek both physical and spiritual healing.
September 7: Vigil of the Nativity of Our Lady Pope Gregory II instituted this vigil in 722 to prepare hearts for celebrating Mary's birth. It serves as a day of anticipation and spiritual preparation for the great feast.
September 8: Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Special Focus) This ancient feast celebrates the nativity of the Mother of God, traditionally dated to 15 BC. The Church honors Mary's birth as the dawn of salvation, marking the beginning of God's plan for human redemption through her unique role.
September 9: Our Lady of Puy, France (221) One of the oldest Marian pilgrimage sites in France, dating to the 3rd century. This ancient shrine has drawn countless pilgrims seeking Mary's intercession for over 1,800 years.
September 10: Our Lady of Trut (Germany, 10th Century) Built by St. Heribert near Cologne, this shrine represents early German devotion to Mary. The site reflects the spread of Marian veneration throughout medieval Europe.
September 11: Our Lady of Hildesheim, Germany (11th Century) This 11th-century German shrine became a center of Marian devotion in the Holy Roman Empire. It represents the flourishing of medieval German spirituality centered on the Virgin Mary.
September 12: The Most Holy Name of Mary (Special Focus) This feast honors the sacred name of Mary and its power in Christian devotion. Established to commemorate the victory at Vienna in 1683, it celebrates the invocation of Mary's holy name as a source of strength and protection for the faithful.
September 13: Our Lady of Zell (Mariazell), Austria/Our Lady of Guadalupe, Spain Mariazell is one of Europe's most important Marian pilgrimage sites, known as the "National Shrine of Austria." The Spanish Guadalupe shrine predates the Mexican apparition and has been a center of devotion for centuries.
September 14: Our Lady of Einsiedeln, Switzerland This Swiss monastery houses the famous Black Madonna statue in the Chapel of Grace. Pilgrims from across Europe visit this "Chapel of Miracles" seeking Mary's intercession.
September 15: The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Special Focus) This feast contemplates Mary's seven great sorrows, from Simeon's prophecy to standing at the foot of the cross. It invites the faithful to meditate on Mary's suffering and her perfect union with Christ's passion, recognizing her as the Mother of Sorrows who understands human grief.
September 16: Our Lady of Good News, Sicily This Sicilian devotion celebrates Mary as the bearer of joyful tidings to humanity. The title emphasizes her role in bringing the Good News of salvation through her divine Son.
September 17: Our Lady of the Candles (15th Century) This 15th-century devotion associates Mary with the light of faith and hope. Candles symbolize the spiritual illumination that Mary brings to those who seek her intercession.
September 18: Our Lady of Smelcem, Flanders This Flemish shrine represents the rich Marian tradition of the Low Countries. Local devotion centered on Mary's maternal care for the faithful in this region.
September 19: Our Lady of La Salette, France (1846) This modern apparition site where Mary appeared to two children with a message of conversion and hope. Mary wept for humanity's sins while calling for repentance and return to her Son.
September 20: Our Lady of the Silver Foot, Toul, Lorraine, France (1284) Dating to 1284, this French shrine features a distinctive devotion to Mary under this unique title. The "Silver Foot" likely refers to a precious statue or relic associated with miraculous events.
September 21: Our Lady of Pucha, Valencia (1223) This 13th-century Spanish devotion reflects the Reconquista period's Marian fervor. The shrine became a place where Christians sought Mary's protection and guidance.
September 22: The Giving of the Name of Mary by St. Ann This feast honors St. Ann's role in naming the future Mother of God. It celebrates the divine providence in Mary receiving her sacred name, which means "bitter sea" or "beloved."
September 23: Our Lady of Valvenere, Spain This Spanish Marian devotion represents regional veneration of the Virgin Mary. Local tradition maintains special reverence for Mary under this particular invocation.
September 24: Our Lady of Ransom, Spain (1218)/Our Lady of Rocamadour, France Our Lady of Ransom honors Mary's role in the redemption of Christian captives from Muslim lands. Rocamadour is one of France's most famous pilgrimage sites, built dramatically on a clifftop sanctuary.
September 25: Madonna, Divine Shepherdess, Spain (1703) (Special Focus) This Spanish devotion from 1703 honors Mary as the Divine Shepherdess who seeks out lost souls. The imagery emphasizes Mary's active role in leading the faithful back to Christ, depicting her as a loving shepherd who searches for and rescues those who have strayed from the flock.
September 26: Our Lady of Victory at Tourney (1340) This feast commemorates a military victory attributed to Mary's intercession in 1340. It reflects the medieval tradition of seeking the Virgin's protection in times of conflict and danger.
September 27: Our Lady of Happy Assembly, Le Laus, France (1664) This 17th-century French apparition site emphasizes the joy found in gathering together in Mary's honor. The title suggests the happiness that comes from communal devotion to the Virgin Mary.
September 28: Our Lady of Cambron, France (1322) Dating to 1322, this French shrine represents medieval Marian devotion in northern France. The site became known for miraculous healings and spiritual consolations.
September 29: Our Lady of Tongres, France (1081) This 11th-century shrine reflects the early medieval flowering of Marian devotion in France. The ancient site has maintained continuous veneration for nearly a millennium.
September 30: Our Lady of Beaumont, Lorraine, France (12th Century)
This 12th-century shrine in the Lorraine region represents the spread of Marian devotion throughout medieval France. The site became a local center of pilgrimage and prayer.
Closing Prayer for September
Dearest Mother Mary,
As this month dedicated to your honor draws to a close, we thank you for all the blessings you have obtained for us through your powerful intercession. From celebrating your birth to honoring your sorrows, from venerating your holy name to seeking your guidance as our Divine Shepherdess, you have been our constant companion.
The countless shrines and devotions we have remembered this month remind us that you are truly the Mother of all peoples, appearing in every age to guide your children home to Christ. As pilgrims throughout history have found comfort in your presence, so too have we experienced your maternal love.
Take all our prayers, sacrifices, and acts of devotion from this month and present them to Jesus as a fragrant offering. May the graces we have received bear fruit in our daily lives, making us more faithful disciples of your Son.
As we prepare to enter October, keep us always under your protection. Continue to be our advocate, our guide, and our hope. Help us to carry the spirit of this Marian month into all our days, that we might live as true children of so loving a Mother.
Most Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God, pray for us now and always.
Amen.
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
Comments
Post a Comment