Jubilee Holy Year 2025: Pilgrims of Hope
September is the month dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Mary
Holy Mother, pierce me through,
in my heart each wound renew
Of my savior crucified.
SORROWFUL MOTHER, ROCK OF CONSTANCY,
SORROWFUL MOTHER, TREASURE OF THE FAITHFUL,
SORROWFUL MOTHER, MIRROR OF PATIENCE,
SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,
SAINT GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL,
SAINT RAPAEL THE ARCHANGEL,
PRAY FOR US.
Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother and His mother's sister,
Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
(John 19:25)
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
(Revelation 12:1)
Dear Pilgrims of Hope, faithful readers all, welcome to September, the month dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Mary. And on this first day of the month we celebrate Labor Day. Many will gather today, and have been these past weekend days, to celebrate the end of summer. At the same time, we remember to honor those who labor at home and away from home, with work of the mind, hands, and heart. We also remember to rest from our labors, with time for prayer and holy leisure, in things that refresh and renew us to build the Kingdom of God on earth. Bless the work of our hands and hearts.
Unless the Lord build the house,
they labor in vain who build it.
(Psalm 127:1)
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
(Matthew 11:28-30)
Why not continue with a quiz? Tradition honors these as the Seven Sorrows of Mary ... Can you hear the music from Jeopardy? 🎶 Bum bum bum bum, bum bum bum. Bum bum bum bum, bum bum bum bum bum bum. 🎵 Ready or not, here they come ... What are The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:35), The Flight into Egypt (Mt 2:13), Search for the Child in Jerusalem (Lk 2:46, 48), Mary Meets Jesus on His Way to the Cross (John 19:17/Luke 23:27), Standing at the Foot of the Cross (John 19:25-27), The Crucifixion and Descent from the Cross (John 19:38), Assisting at the Burial of Christ (Luke 23:55, 56). It occurs to me that any one of us, or a group if you have one, could invent a novena leading up to September 15 when we commemorate Our Lady of Sorrows. Since there are Seven Sorrows, that covers a Sorrow for seven days, the Seven Sorrows could be sandwiched with your favorite prayer to Mary, one on Day 1 (September 7) and one on Day 9 (September 15). Included in those days are September 8, when we celebrate The Birth of Mary, and September 12, when we celebrate The Most Holy Name of Mary. And there is always the Litany to Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, a few invocations noted above. What is your favorite invocation? Faithful readers, it is going to be a busy month.
Even though I have been thinking about the Sorrowful Mother, Mary, so strong and courageous, Our Lady who Simeon told, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many may be revealed" (Luke 2:34-35), I have also been thinking about Mary, a Joyful Mother. Yes, Mary was sorrowful. Rightly. At the same time, she was a woman of joy. Otherwise, Mary would not have proclaimed, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior ..." (Luke 1:46-55). We can turn to Mary every day then, and at every moment, for help and guidance, especially as a human tendency is to focus on sorrows, or our troubles and problems. A Sorrowful Mother, Mary is also A Joyful Mother. Mary wept; Mary sang; Mary danced. After all, even babe in the womb John the Baptist leaped for joy when the sound of Mary's greeting reached the ears of her cousin Elizabeth (see Luke 1:41-45). And when I pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, before beginning the Second Mystery, the Visitation, I attempt to give a leap of joy, if not physically, then mentally and in my heart, and pray for Mary and Elizabeth, and little John too, to help me leap for joy. Every one of us has many sorrows: moments of pain, grief, sadness, loneliness, anxiety, fear, doubt. On the other hand, each of us has so much to be joyful about, first and foremost at how much Jesus loves each and every one of us. Yes, Jesus loves you; Jesus loves me. And so does Mary, His mother. There is no greater Love than Jesus. At the same time, there is no greater love than Mary. So, in our favor, we are privileged to have the greatest Love in Jesus, and the greatest love in Mary, His Mother, both sorrowful and joyful. In fact, it is overwhelming even to think about it. So much Love and love. And as I heard a minister preach at a wedding many years ago: "It's all aboot love." Yes, aboot. And it certainly is aboot Love and love.
And before we hear from a number of voices this month, we also remember September 14, The Exaltation of the Holy Cross. So don't forget to lift high the cross and help others carry their crosses. And then there are the powerful Archangels, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, set for September 29. And an added bonus is that we begin the third "straight through" read of the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict for 2025 (see Rule of Saint Benedict 58:9-16). So, we begin with "Listen carefully, my son, to the master's instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart. This is advice from a father who loves you; welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice" (RB Prologue 1). Did I mention the heavy line-up of saints to pray for us this month? You will see below ...
First, speaking of dancing ...
Therefore, let all creation sing and dance and unite to make worthy contribution to the celebration of this day. Let there be a common festival for saints in heaven and men on earth. Let everything, mundane things and those above, join in festive celebration. Today this created world is raised to the dignity of a holy place for Him who made all things. The creature is newly prepared to be a divine dwelling place for the Creator.
(From a discourse by Saint Andrew of Crete, bishop, in Office of Readings, September 8, Birth of Mary)
In dangers,
in hardships
in every doubt
think of Mary
call out to Mary.
Keep her in your mouth
keep her in your heart ...
With your hand in hers
you will never stumble.
With her protecting you
you will not be afraid.
With her leading you
you will never tire.
Her kindness
will see you through to the end.
Then you will know
by your own experience
how true it is that
the Virgin's Name was Mary.
(Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, 1090-1153)
Although you have not seen Him you love Him;
even though you do not see Him now yet believe in Him,
you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy.
(1 Peter 1:8)
Many times, praying at odd hours of the night, the little birds would come to sing and I would bet with them who would praise God the most.
(Blessed John Macias, 1585-1645)
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither.
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
(J.R.R. Tolkien, 1892-1973)
Jesus alone is my hope.
(Blessed Catherine of Racconigi, 1486-1547)
Manners or good behavior cannot be separated from Christian morals, since Christianity cannot succeed where ordinary humanity is absent.
(Pope Benedict XVI, 1927-2022)
If I ever become a saint-I will surely be one of "darkness". I will continually be absent from heaven-to light the light of those in darkness on earth.
(Saint Teresa of Calcutta, 1910-1997)
I forgive, I forgive, I forgive.
(Last words of Blessed Leonella Sgorbati, 1940-2006)
The melody of her life is played just as it was written. Mary was thought, conceived, and planned as the equal sign between ideal and history, thought and reality, hope and realization.
(Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, 1895-1975)
Many acts of love for God ... although good and very desirable, are yet very suspect when they do not lead to the practice of effective love.
(Saint Vincent de Paul. 1580-1660)
Joy, with peace, is the sister of charity. Serve the Lord with laughter.
(Saint Pius of Pietrelcina "Padre Pio" 1887-1968)
In moments when fever, agony, and pain make it hard to pray, the suggestion of prayer that comes from merely holding the rosary-or better still,
from caressing the Crucifix at the end of it-is tremendous!
(Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, 1895-1975)
Let us love our neighbors, my friends, let us love the one who is near to us, so that we may be able to reach the love of the one who is above us. Then we shall reach the happiness of the heavenly multitude, the happiness of which we have received an assurance of the Holy Spirit. Let us move forward toward that goal where we shall be happy without end with all our love.
(Pope Saint Gregory the Great, 540-604)
If men only knew the power of love. which they often appreciate so little-the power of being able to love, to be sustained and defended by love, to grow in love at every instant. This, in spite of the imperfections of all my works, gives me the courage to labor ... My longings to love God are infinite, and only God can fill my emptiness with His infinite love ... I need all His love in order to love Him as I ought. I hope that He will give it to me, and I do not doubt that He will.
(Venerable Mary Magdalene of Jesus in the Eucharist, C.P., d. 1960)
SAINT GILES,
SAINT TERESA MARGARET REDI OF THE SACRED HEART,
SAINT BEATRICE DA SILVA MENESES,
BLESSED ANDRE GRASSET DE SAINT SAUVER,
THE SEPTEMBER MARTRYS,
JESUIT MARTYRS FOR THE NAME OF JESUS,
POPE SAINT GREGORY THE GREAT,
POPE SAINT BONIFACE I,
SAINT CUTHBERT,
SAINT MAC NISSI,
BLESSED DINA BELANGER,
MOTHER SAINT TERESA OF CALCUTTA,
SAINT HERBERT,
BLESSED THOMAS TZUGI,
SAINT PETER CLAVER,
BLESSED FREDERIC OZANAM,
SAINT CIARAN OF GLONMACNOISE,
SAINT OSBURG,
SAINT AMBROSE BARLOW, OSB,
SAINT NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO,
SAINT EGWIN, BISHOP,
BLESSED AGNELLUS OF PISA, PRIEST,
BLESSED FRANCIS GARATE,
BLESSED OGLERIO OF LORELIO,
SAINT PETER II OF TARENTAISE,
SAINT DEINIOL,
SAINT JANE GABRIEL,
SERVANT OF GOD VINCENT CAPODANNO,
BLESSED MARY OF JESUS,
VENERABLE ALOYSIUS SCHWARTZ,
BLESSED APOLLINARIS FRANCO,
SAINT AILBE,
SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, BISHOP, DOCTOR,
OUR LADY OF SORROWS,
SAINT MIRIN,
POPE SAINT CORNELIUS,
SAINT CYPRIAN,
SAINT NINIAN,
SAINT ROBERT BELLARMINE,
SAINT HILDEGARD OF BINGEN,
SAINT ALBERT OF JERUSALEM,
SAINT EDITH OF KEMSING,
SAINT JOSEPH OF CUPERTINO,
SAINT STANISLAW KOSTKA,
SAINT JANUARIUS, BISHOP, MARTYR,
SAINT EMILY DE RODAT,
SAINT THEODORE OF TARSUS,
SAINT ANDREW KIM TAEGON, PAUL CHONG HASANG, AND COMPANIONS,
ALL KOREAN MARTYRS,
SAINT MATTHEW, APOSTLE, EVANGELIST,
SAINT MAURICE AND THE THEBAN LEGION,
SAINT THOMAS OF VILLANOVA,
SAINT PIUS OF PIETRELCINA "PADRE PIO", PRIEST,
SAINT ADOMNAN OF IONA,
SAINT STEPHANIE,
OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM,
BLESSED ANTON MARTIN SLOMSHEK,
BLESSED EMILIE TAVERNIER-GAMELIN,
SAINT FINBARR,
SAINT HERMANN CONTRACTUS,
SAINT COSMAS AND DAMIAN, MARTYR,
SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL, PRIEST,
SAINT WENCESLAUS,
SAINT LAWRENCE RUIZ AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARTYRS,
SAINT LIOBA,
SAINT MICHAEL, GABRIEL AND RAPHAEL, ARCHANGELS,
SAINT JEROME, PRIEST, DOCTOR,
PRAY FOR US.
NB. A new custom is to post a reflection at the commencement of each month of the calendar year, which turns out to be 12 months, each with a specific Catholic devotion. United in faith and prayer, we keep going. Until further notice.
This month's photo: Mother Do Not Mourn for Me, by the hand of Sister Suzanne, ocso.
© Gertrude Feick 2025
Very inspiring! Thank you!
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