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Why is September dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows?

Each month of the liturgical year is devoted to a particular Catholic tradition, usually centered on a Feast during that month. You may recall that August is the month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and September follows as the month of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Initially, this might seem like a strange designation as Our Lady of Sorrows is usually connected to Jesus’ crucifixion, which in the Church’s liturgical year is celebrated in March or April. However, early on the Church developed a feast on September 14 named, “The Exaltation of the Holy Cross.” This feast day commemorates the finding of the Holy Cross by St. Helena and the consecration of the basilicas built by Constantine on the sites of the Holy Sepulchre and Calvary at Jerusalem on September 14, 335. In doing so, this brought into September a particular meditation on the cross of Jesus Christ.

Uniting Mary’s own sufferings to the Holy Cross grew in popularity over the years. By the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows (although under various titles) was widespread throughout the Church.  Then in 1482, the feast was officially placed in the Roman Missal under the title of Our Lady of Compassion, highlighting the great love our Blessed Mother displayed in suffering with her Son.
 
In 1668 the feast in honor of the Seven Dolors (Sorrows) of Mary was set for the Sunday after September 14, the Feast of the Holy Cross. The feast was inserted into the Roman calendar in 1814 by Pius VII. Then in 1912 Pope St Pius X transferred the feast day from the third Sunday of September to September 15, the octave-day of Our Lady’s Nativity, September 8.  On account of these two central feasts, September has become known as a month dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows.

Just as Mary did, we too should share in Christ's suffering and death in order to share in his rising to new life.  And if you haven't ever prayed the Seven Sorrows chaplet (a special rosary configuration), I encourage you to consider exploring this devotion as a way to unite yourself with Mary.

The seven events in the life of Mary when she experienced great sorrow:

1. The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:34–35)

2. The Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13)

3. The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem (Luke 2:43–45)

4. The Meeting of Mary and Jesus on his Way to Calvary (traditional)

5. Standing at the Foot of the Cross (John 19:25)

6. Jesus Being Taken Down from the Cross (Matthew 27:57–59)

7. The Burial of Jesus (John 19:40–42)

Holy Mother, imprint deeply upon my heart the wounds of the Crucified.