Catholic devotions for the 14th September

Scroll down for today's

Saint of the Day
Reading of the Martyrology
Dedication of the Month
Dedication of the Day
Rosary
Five Wounds Rosary in Latin
Seven Sorrows Rosary in English
Latin Monastic Office
Reading of the Rule of Saint Benedict
Celebration of Mass
Reading from the School of Jesus Crucified

Our Only Hope

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Early in the fourth century, Saint Helena, mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, went to Jerusalem in search of the holy places of Christ’s life. She razed the second-century Temple of Aphrodite, which tradition held was built over the Savior’s tomb, and her son built the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher on that spot. During the excavation, workers found three crosses. Legend has it that the one on which Jesus died was identified when its touch healed a dying woman.

The Cross immediately became an object of veneration. At a Good Friday celebration in Jerusalem toward the end of the fourth century, according to an eyewitness, the wood was taken out of its silver container and placed on a table together with the inscription Pilate ordered placed above Jesus’ head: Then “all the people pass through one by one; all of them bow down, touching the cross and the inscription, first with their foreheads, then with their eyes; and, after kissing the cross, they move on.”

To this day, the Eastern Churches, Catholic and Orthodox alike, celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on the September anniversary of the basilica’s dedication. The feast entered the Western calendar in the seventh century after Emperor Heraclius recovered the Cross from the Persians, who had carried it off in 614, 15 years earlier. According to the story, the emperor intended to carry the Cross back into Jerusalem himself, but was unable to move forward until he took off his imperial garb and became a barefoot pilgrim.

The Reading from the Martyrology

September is the Month of Our Lady of Sorrows

Third Sorrow - Luke 2

41 And his parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the solemn day of the pasch,

Et ibant parentes ejus per omnes annos in Jerusalem, in die solemni Paschae.

42 And when he was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast,

Et cum factus esset annorum duodecim, ascendentibus illis Jerosolymam secundum consuetudinem diei festi,

43 And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not.

consummatisque diebus, cum redirent, remansit puer Jesus in Jerusalem, et non cognoverunt parentes ejus.

44 And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day's journey, and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance.

Existimantes autem illum esse in comitatu, venerunt iter diei, et requirebant eum inter cognatos et notos.

45 And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him.

Et non invenientes, regressi sunt in Jerusalem, requirentes eum.

 46 And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions.

Et factum est, post triduum invenerunt illum in templo sedentem in medio doctorum, audientem illos, et interrogantem eos.

Thursday is the Day dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament

The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary are prayed on Thursday

The Rosary in Latin 

Chaplet of the Five Holy Wounds of Christ in Latin 

Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady in English

 Latin Monastic Office for today from Le Barroux in France     Texts also provided

The Reading of the Rule of Saint Benedict for September 14

II. Qualis debeat esse abbas

30 Meminere debet semper abbas quod est, meminere quod dicitur, et scire quia cui plus committitur, plus ab eo exigitur. 

3l Sciatque quam difficilem et arduam rem suscipit regere animas et multorum servire moribus, et alium quidem blandimentis, alium vero increpationibus, alium suasionibus; 

32 et secundum uniuscuiusque qualitatem vel intellegentiam, ita se omnibus conformet et aptet ut non solum detrimenta gregis sibi commissi non patiatur, verum in augmentatione boni gregis gaudeat.

Chapter 2 Qualities the Abbot must have

                

30 The abbot must always remember what he is, remember what he is called, and know that from him to whom more is committed, more is required (Luke 12:48).

31 And he must know how difficult and arduous is his received task of ruling souls and serving different temperaments: complimenting some, rebuking others, using persuasion with still others;

32 and according to the unique qualities and intelligence of each he must so conform and adapt himself that not only will the flock committed to him suffer no loss, but he will truly rejoice in the increase of a good flock.

Today's Celebration of the Mass

Meditation for the 14th Day of the Month from the School of Jesus Crucified

Relics of the Passion preserved in Santa Croce in Rome

Jesus XPI Passio sit semper in cordibus nostris

May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts