The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8 is usually the day that many schools and homeschooling families use as a pivotal feast to mark the beginning of their school year. And what can be more universally appealing (especially to children) than celebrating a birthday? This is one of the three birthdays celebrated in the Liturgical Year: Jesus on December 25, St. John the Baptist on June 24, and the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8. All three persons came into this world without Original Sin. The feast on this date has been celebrated by the Roman Church. Saint Augustine described the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary as an event of cosmic and historic significance, and an appropriate prelude to the birth of Jesus Christ. “She is the flower of the field from whom bloomed the precious lily of the valley,” he sai
Book Recommendation: The Winter Wives by Canadian novelist and former journalist Linden MacIntyre (Paperback, Vintage Press, 2022).
This book is a gripping story of secrets, memories, families and friendships. The author introduces characters, very real people, good people with flaws we eventually discover.
Byron is the narrator guiding us through the pages and through his own journey. Events move us between Nova Scotia and Toronto as we interact with his best friend Alan, and their wives, Peggy and Annie. Questions: Do we ever really know people we think we do? Do we really know ourselves?
Eleanor McCloskey, CND
Does September 1st catch you almost by surprise? June, July and August shower us with summer’s beauty and abundant gifts. And then, before we know it, in fact more quickly each year, we find ourselves turning the calendar to September 2022!!
Yes, it’s the beginning of the Season of Creation. Pope Francis, hearing, for the last long while, the Cry of the Earth and those who suffer poverty as One Cry invites all people to join in prayer for God’s creation, and to work to better care for it.
The season begins September 1, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and concludes October 4 with the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology.