Hello August

 

Each month of the calendar year is dedicated to a Catholic Devotion. In August it is the Immaculate Heart of Mary because this feast was traditionally celebrated on August 22nd but now that day is dedicated to Our Lady’s Coronation and the octave day of Her Assumption.  Make sure to check local sources for events for the month especially surrounding Our Lady’s Assumption. August 1st also begins the extraordinary annual Portiuncula Indulgence. Portiuncula comes from the word “little portion” due to the little plot of land the chapel is on. Our Lady of the Angels is named thus as the fresco in the chapel depicts Our Lady in Her glorious assumption surrounded by angels or the legend St. Francis was told that angels frequented the chapel. 

August 1st also marks the feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori he is the patron saint of the scrupulous and his feast is a good day to read up on resources for those with anxiety and or scrupulosity. 

"Know that of all devotions the most pleasing to Mary is to have frequent recourse to her, asking for favors.” -St. Alphonsus Liguori

Note: Confession can be within 20 days, not 8. Also the indulgence can be gained the first Sunday in August if the Church isn’t open daily. 

Each month is also filled with much folklore and legend and 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.

Daily Reads  

Weather Lore Calendar

30 Days with Mary (8/14-9/12)

  Note: The Feast of Our Lady’s Assumption through the Feast of Her Seven Sorrows are known as “Our Lady’s 30 Days”. Father Weiser writes the following in his “Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs” : “All through the Middle Ages the days from August 15 to September 15 were called "Our Lady's Thirty Days" (Frauendreissiger) in the Ger-man-speaking sections of Europe. Many Assumption shrines even today show Mary clothed in a robe covered with ears of grain. These images (Maria im Gerteidekleid, Our Lady of Grains) are favored goals of pilgrimages during August.25 Popular legends ascribe a character of blessing and goodness to Our Lady's Thirty Days. Both animals and plants are said to lose their harmful traits. Poisonous snakes do not strike, poison plants are harmless, wild animals refrain from attacking humans. All food produced during this period is especially wholesome and good, and will remain fresh much longer than at other times.”

Lunar Folklore 

The August Full Moon is called The Sturgeon Moon 

Further Full Moon Folklore  

The Full Moon in Ireland

The New Moon in Ireland

Presidential Proclamations  

For more about this months dedications click here and here

August 2024:

August 1st: Spirit Halloween announces store locations for the season.

August 9th: First “Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party” of the season. This initial date is sold out for the party but Walt Disney World has begun putting out their Halloween merch and will decorate the park in preparation for the party shortly.

August 1st-August 16th: The Continuation of the Olympics of the 33rd Olympiad.

August 30th: First “Halloween Horror Nights” of the season at Universal Studios Orlando. 

 *As with any post, the usage of a link doesn't denote agreement with sentiments that may be found on Catholic sites in regard to sexuality, ecumenism and political views that one may deem regressive. Therefore, while the aforementioned work is beautiful, reference to some cultures and ethnicities are sometimes referred to with outdated terminology.