Katherine Mansfield, a famous New Zealand writer once said “September is different from all other months. It is more magical. I feel the strange chemical change in the earth of the extra ‘life’ in the air – a resilience, a sparkle!” September is the month we welcome the season of Autumn, the most beautiful season of the year. Autumn is a time of balance, where the day and night are equal in length, and a time of transition when nature prepares for winter. As we enter the season of Autumn, may the brightness and resilience of the season fill our lives as well.
September is different from all other months. It is more magical. I feel the strange chemical change in the earth of the extra ‘life’ in the air – a resilience, a sparkle!
The month of September brings cherished memories for us because of the many important feasts we celebrate during this month. September 8 is the feast day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. When we celebrate our mother’s birth, we honor Jesus, too. Let’s thank God for the gift of life and give honor to both Jesus and Mary by showing respect and concern to one another by remembering that God has created each person with love and with a call to do something very special in His plan.
September 14, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross holds a remarkable place in our faith life. The Cross symbolizes Christ’s victory over death. The feast celebrates the redemptive transformation of a brutal instrument of torture – the cross – into a divine “tree of life” that brings hope to humankind. The feast celebrates two historical events: the discovery of the True Cross by St. Helena, and the dedication of the Basilica and Shrine built on Calvary by Emperor Constantine. The feast of Exaltation of the Cross reminds us of God’s greatest work – His salvific death on the Cross and the Resurrection – through which death was defeated and the doors to Heaven opened for us, the sinners.
We also celebrate the feast of Mother Teresa on September 5. Mother Teresa left a testament of unshakable faith, invincible hope, and extraordinary charity. Her response to her call made her a Missionary of Charity, a mother to the poor, a symbol of compassion to the world, and a living witness to the thirsting love of God. The other feasts remembered during the month of September include the feast of the three Archangels and that of St. Matthew. The feast of the Archangels reminds us to recognize the angels in our life, and to invoke the most powerful messengers for our spiritual battles, for our strength and for our healing. The feast of St. Matthew the Apostle Serves as an example that Christ came to save all those who are lost, and that He is the good shepherd who with love and hope goes after his lost sheep.
Let all these feasts be a time of blessing for us. Let the Autumn inspire us to reflect on our lives – to let go of what no longer serves us, to embrace new opportunities, and to seek wisdom and joy.
