Happy October
Each month of the calendar year is dedicated to a Catholic Devotion. In October it is Our Lady of the Rosary. This is because the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary falls on October 7th every year. On this day in 2024 is a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the Middle East. This month begins with the feast of St. Therese of Lisieux, known as the Little Flower. She is the patron Saint of those with OCD and mental illness and her “Little Way” is a simple way to Sainthood. See here for a letter from Pope Francis on St. Therese. October 2nd marks the feast of the guardian angels. They are our God given friends and are there to pray for us and guide us. We can talk to them in prayer and ask them to come to our aid and the aid of our dear ones. This was the belief of Padre Pio. LGBTQ+ History Month is also commemorated in October as well as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Orlando Florida. It is also Mental Health Screening Month and Mental Illness Awareness Week with Disability Employment Awareness Month. Finally at month's end the celebration of Dia de Los Muertos begins. October 27th is the first day of "visits" where pets who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge visit those who put their photos on the Ofrenda.
Each month is also filled with much folklore and legend. As we approach the end of the year and the holiday season, the Farmer's Almanac explains some of these superstitions. Some of the following is also applied from the book "Superstition" by Sally Coulthard. Superstitions and folklore are fun to believe as long as we don't make idols to them and instead see them as gifts for God's use.
Some cultures say it is good luck to blow a pinch of cinnamon in your doorway on the first of the month. Popular superstition says to say rabbits, rabbits or white rabbits first thing on the first of each month for luck.
Welcome to Spooky Season! Although many Halloween fanatics such as myself have been ready for a while, many festivities really begin with October's arrival. Some networks have 31 Nights of Halloween with Halloween specials and horror films showing each day of the month. My husband and I will be partaking in one spooky film a day while we countdown the days to All Hallows' Eve! See also this virtual Halloween Advent Calendar. For more local Halloween fun download the app “Frightmaps”.
On October 3rd Franciscans celebrate The Transitus of St. Francis. This is a special custom for the Franciscan order. Keep an eye out for local churches doing pet blessings for the feast of St. Francis. For those who are unable to transport their pets see here.
The Univeral Process of the Synod of Bishops will continue this month from beginning in October of 2023. Please pray for the Synod! See here for another resource on the Synod. This meeting of the Bishops and members of the Catholic Community is monumental and is hopefully going to consider the LGBTQ+ community and the role of women in The Church in a much more positive light.
Pope Francis' October Intention
Lunar Folklore
New Moon- The New Moon in Ireland
For more about this months dedications click Here and here.
Novena Dates: Saints Simon and Jude (October 28th) Novena prayed October 20th-28th
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