By Brea Cannon
Liturgical Rhythm of Life
My son’s favorite prayer is the St. Michael prayer. When I ask him what prayer he would like to pray before bedtime, it is always the St. Michael prayer. I believe his 4-year-old self loves the defense and strength St. Michael guards us with every day.
When I first heard about St. Michael’s Lent a few years ago, I knew it would be an excellent addition to our family’s spiritual life. St. Michael’s Lent is a tradition that is spiritually grounding during the green meadow of Ordinary Time. It begins on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Aug. 15, and concludes on the Feast of the Archangels on Sept. 29.
St. Francis of Assisi had a deep devotion to St. Michael and even rebuilt a church in Assisi, the Chapel of St. Mary of the Angels. On Sept. 17, 1224, St. Francis and his brothers were praying during St. Michael’s Lent when an angel appeared to St. Francis and presented him with the stigmata, the wounds of Christ. He bore those wounds and did so with a deep love.
St. Francis observed the disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving during St. Michael’s Lent.
The three disciplines are a means to grow deeper in spiritual purification. In our own lives we can observe St. Michael’s Lent as a pause in our summer months and refocus our spiritual lives. From the time of Pentecost to Advent, we live in Ordinary Time. In this time, it is very easy to let our spiritual muscles weaken.
Observing St. Michael’s Lent can look similar to the traditional Lent before Easter: fast from meats on Fridays or give up a desired favorite, choose a specific prayer routine and be specific about helping others in need. In addition to the three traditional disciplines, one might also take some time, like St. Francis, to specially add prayers to the Archangels and Our Blessed Mother.
As St. Michael’s Lent leads into September, plan to live out the liturgical calendar with a few other feast days:
Sept. 5: St. Teresa of Calcutta; read some of Mother Teresa’s writings and quotes, enjoy some Indian food or continue with the St. Michael’s discipline of alms by giving time, talent and treasures to your favorite church program or charity.
Sept. 8: The Nativity of Mary; praying the rosary and enjoying dessert with friends and family is an excellent way to celebrate Our Blessed Mother’s birthday.
Sept. 14: Exaltation of the Cross; this day commemorates the finding of the True Cross of Christ by St. Helen in 326. Veneration of the cross is a tradition that dates back to ancient times. As one sits in prayer with the cross, an appropriate prayer would be, “I adore you, O Christ, and I praise you, because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.” Veneration can be personal or as a family.
Sept. 15: Our Lady of Sorrow; take time this day to sit in silence and reflect on all seven sorrows of our Blessed Mother; keep the cross exposed from yesterday’s vernation.
Seven Sorrows of Mary:
- Prophecy of Simeon (Lk 2:25-35)
- Flight of Egypt (Mt 2:13-15)
- Loss of Child Jesus in the Temple (Lk 2:41-51)
- Meeting Jesus, with the Women of Jerusalem, on the Way of the Cross (Lk 23:26-31)
- Crucifixion (Jn 19:17, 25-30)
- Removal of Jesus’ Body from the Cross (Mk 15:43-47)
- Burial of Jesus (Jn 19:39-42)
Sept. 29: Feast of the Archangels: This feast concludes St. Michael’s Lent and is a day to honor and thank the archangels for their continued guidance, protection and healing. Tradition holds when St. Michael kicked Satan out of heaven, Satan was thrown to earth and landed on a thorny blackberry bush. In our home, we celebrate St. Michael and his companions with a fresh blackberry pie and prayers to the archangels. September is dedication to Our Lady of Sorrows. Though we have many feasts and saints we celebrate and honor in the month, it is a great time to also unite ourselves to Mary’s suffering and the cross. Carrying a cross can be difficult. Mary and the angels are always there to help, guide and protect us on the journey.