THE MONTH OF
OUR LADY OF SORROWS-September

The month of September is dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Mary. Devotion to the sorrows of the Virgin Mary dates from the twelfth century, when it made its appearance in monastic circles under the influence of St. Anselm and St. Bernard. The Cistercians and then the Servites undertook to propagate it. It became widespread in the fourteenth and especially the fifteenth centuries, particularly in the Rhineland and Flanders, where Confraternities of the Sorrowful Mother sprang up. It was in this context that the first liturgical formularies in her honor were composed. 

Saturday 6th of September: Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday (white)

Sunday 7th of September:  The Twelfth Sunday after Trinity. (Green)

Collect: Almighty and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire, or deserve; Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy; forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

From the Book of Common Prayer 1662

Monday 8th of September: Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (white)

Collect: Lord, bestow upon thy servants the gift of heavenly grace, we pray thee, so that we for whom the birth of the blessed Virgin's child meant the beginning of salvation, may find, in the worshipful feast of her Birthday, increase of peace: Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(From the Roman Missal 1957)

Friday 12th of September: Holy Name of Mary (white)

Collect: Grant, we pray thee, almighty God, that thy faithful people, who enjoy the protection of the most holy Virgin Mary and delight in her name, may be her dear interecession be delivered from all ills on earth and made worthy to attain everlasting bliss in heaven: Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(From the Roman Missal 1957)

Saturday 13th of September: Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday (white)

Sunday 14th of September:  The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity. (Green)

(Also the Exaltation of the Holy Cross)

Collect: Almighty and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudable service; Grant, we beseech thee, that we may so faithfully serve thee in this life, that we fail not finally to attain thy heavenly promises; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

(From the Book of Common Prayer 1662)

Collect for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross:  O God, who on this day dost gladden us by the yearly feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we pray thee grant that we who have known its mystery on earth may be found worthy to enjoy in heaven the bliss it has purchased for us: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(From the Roman Missal 1957)

Monday 15th of September: The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary (white)

Collect: O God, in hose sufferings, as Simeon foretold, a sword of sorrow pierced the sweet soul of Mary, thy august virgin-mother, grant us this boon: that we, who reverently call to mind her anguish, may secure the happiness which thy own sufferings have gained for us: thou who art God. Amen.
(From the Roman Missal 1957)

Tuesday 16th of September: Feast of Saint Cyprian (Red)

Saturday 20th of September: Ember Saturday (Violet)

Sunday 21st of September:  The Feast of Saint Matthew the Apostle. (Red)
Collect: O Almighty God, who by thy blessed Son didst call Matthew from the receipt of custom to be an Apostle and Evangelist; Grant us grace to forsake all covetous desires, and inordinate love of riches, and to follow the same thy Son Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

(From the Book of Common Prayer 1662)

Tuesday 23rd of September: Feast of Saint Linus and the Common of St Thecla. (Red)

Collect: Almighty God, grant, we pray thee, that we who are celebrating the birthday of thy blessed virgin-martyr Thecla may find joy in her yearly festival and profit by the example of her great fidelity: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (From the Roman Missal of 1957)

Wednesday 24th of September: Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham & Our Lady of Ransom (White)

Collect for Our Lady of Walsingham:  Grant, we pray, almighty God, that as in the mystery of the Incarnation the blessed and ever Virgin Mary conceived your Son in her heart before she conceived him in the womb, so we, your pilgrim people, rejoicing in her motherly care, may welcome him into our hearts and become a holy house fit for his eternal dwelling. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(From the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England)

First Collect for Our Lady of Ransom: O God, who, for the deliverance of Christians from the power of the heathen, wast pleased through the glorious mother of thy Son to enrich the Church with a new family, we pray thee grant that we, who devoutly venerate her as the foundress of this great work, may likewise be delivered by her merits and intercession from all our sins and from bondage to the power of hell: Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
(From the Roman Missal 1957)

Second Collect for Our Lady of Ransom: In pity heed thy people's prayers, we beg thee, Lord, so that we who are justly punished for our sins may, for the honor of thy name, be mercifully delivered: Through Our Lord. Amen.

(From the Roman Missal 1957)

Saturday 27th of September: Feast of Saint's Cosmas & Damian (Red)

Sunday 28th of September:  The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity. (Green)
Collect: Keep, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy Church with thy perpetual mercy: and, because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(From the Book of Common Prayer 1662)

Monday 29th of September: Feast of Saint Michael & All Angels