FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Saturday 11th September : St. Ailbe
He is sometimes claimed as one of the pre-Patrician saints, but the annals note his death in 528. A tradition held that he went to Rome and was ordained bishop by the Pope. He founded the monastery of Emly, which became very important in Munster. Patron Saint of diocese of Cashel & Emly.
Sunday 12th September : 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Christian community must be seen to be one of forgiveness and mercy. If the Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy, who are we to be otherwise? We need to be conscious of our own weaknesses and failures so that we may not judge others harshly. We cannot pray the Lord's Prayer with unforgiving hearts.
Monday 14th September : The Exaltation of the Hoy Cross
The discovery of the True Cross is dated to 14 September 320. On 13 September 335, the churches on Calvary were dedicated and the cross that St. Helena discovered was venerated there the next day. The annual commemoration of that event has been celebrated since, in praise of the redemption won for us by Christ.
Tuesday 15th September : Our Lady of Sorrows
Mary, standing by the cross, "suffered intensely with her only begotten Son and united herself as his Mother to his sacrifice, consenting with love to the offering of the victim who was born of her", whom she also offered to the eternal Father.
Wednesday 16th September : Ss Cornelius & Cyprian
Cornelius became Pope in 251 and died in exile at Civitavecchia in 253. Patron of cattle and domestic animals.
Cyprian Bishop of Carthage, teacher and preacher, martyred in 258.
Wednesday 16th September : St. Ninian
According to an unbroken tradition dating from the earliest times and confirmed in the writings of the Venerable Bede in the 8th century, a holy man named Nynia, born among he British people, introduced the Christian faith into a significant part of the land now known as Scotland long before the coming of Saint Columba. St. Ninian is acknowledged as Scotland's first saint with the date 397 AD celebrated as the beginning of his mission to his people.
Thursday 17th September : St. Robert Bellarmine
Jesuit, Cardinal Bishop of Capua, involved in theological controversies of the time. Patron of catechists.
Thursday 17th September : St. Hildegard
Founder of the monastery of Bingen (Germany) around 1150, she know the natural sciences, was a musician and composer, a writer and mystic. Worked for the reform of religious life and the Church, she was canonised and declared a doctor of the Church in 2012.
17th September is the anniversary of the death in 1918 of Cardinal John Murphy Farley, 4th Archbishop of New York. Native of Newtownhamilton (Lower Creggan Parish)
Saturday 19th September : St. Januarius
Bishop of Benevento, was martyred at Naples in 305 with six companions.