Saints in September

Saints & Seasons through the Year
• Feasts & Festivals in January • Lesser Festivals in February • Celtic Saints in March • Festivals in May • Saints' Prayers in May • Saints Days in July	• Celebrations in August • Clare of Assisi (August) • Saints & Martyrs in August • Saints in September • Saints' Prayers in September • Saints in October

Discover Yiewsley

3rd September: Gregory the Great
Gregory was born in 540, the son of a Roman senator. As a young man he pursued a career in government and in 573 he was made Prefect of the city of Rome. Following the death of his father, he resigned his office, sold his inheritance, and became a monk. In 579 he was sent by the Pope to be his ambassador in Constantinople. He returned to Rome several years later as abbot of the monastery and was elected Pope in 590.

Gregory was an astute administrator and diplomat, securing peace at a time of political turmoil. He initiated a mission to England, sending Augustine with 40 monks from his own monastery to refound the English church. He produced many pastoral writings and was sometimes called 'Doctor of desire' because of his dynamic of love and desire for God. As Pope he styled himself as 'Servant of the servants of God' a title which typified both his personality and ministry. He died in 604.

14th September: Holy Cross Day
The cross on which Christ was crucified has become the universal symbol of Christianity, replacing the fish symbol of the early church. After the end of the era of persecution, early in the fourth century, pilgrims began to travel to Jerusalem to visit and pray at the places associated with the life of Jesus. Helena, mother of the emperor, was a Christian and, whilst overseeing excavations in the city, is said to have uncovered a cross, which many believed to be the Cross of Christ. A basilica was built on the site of the Holy Sepulchre and dedicated on this day in the year 335.

17th September: Hildegard of Bingen
Hildegard was born in 1098 at Böckelheim in Germany. She became a nun in her teens and abbess of Diessenberg in 1136. From an early age she had a powerful, visionary life. She described her visions as, 'the reflection of the living light'. They deepened her understanding of God and creation, sin and redemption. But they were accompanied by repeated illness and physical weakness.

Hildegard wrote down her visions as well as other works, including commentaries, a medical compendium, and natural history. She composed poetry and music too. Her down-to-earth holiness brought many people to her convent, which became so large that it had to move to Bingen. Hildegard travelled much in the Rhineland founding a daughter house and influencing many people, including the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. She died on this day in 1179.

21st September: Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
Matthew appears in the list of the twelve apostles of Jesus and, according to the gospel written in his name, was a tax collector. Mark and Luke called the tax collector Levi and it has been assumed that they are the same person. This occupation was despised by his fellow Jews, he was seen as a collaborator with the occupying Roman force.

But Jesus ate with Matthew and with his friends, scandalising those around him. He showed that he was not interested in judging by outward appearances.

Matthew asserted that his life would now change because he followed Jesus and he would make amends for any previous wrongdoing. That was good enough for Jesus. Matthew was forgiven, accepted and received into the kingdom.

Notes produced by The Revd Sue Groom, based on material in:
Exciting Holiness: Collects and Readings, Brother Tristram SSF;
Following in their Steps, Eleanor and Rachel Sayers;
All the Company of Heaven, Kenneth Stevenson.
Illustrations from Signs, Symbols & Saints: Images from Turvey Abbey, CD Rom, © McCrimmons Publishing, used under license.

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