October – Month of the Rosary, Month of Completion, Month of Contentment

Intention of the month

“GIVE HER PRAISE YE FRUITFUL ORCHARDS,

GIVE HER PRAISE YE SWELLING SEAS…”

“Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom friend of the maturing sun.”

John Keats, Ode to Autumn

Hail our Lady’s sweet October,

Month of Virgin Mother’s love!

Now uprise the countless Aves

Linking earth with Heaven above.

When the joyous little children

In a bright procession come

Sunny youth and age snow-whitened

To Our Lady’s Harvest Home.

Joyful chant the angel reappears

As they gather in the grain.

Here again in our poor England

As in lands across the main

Gather they a golden harvest

And again Our Lady’s dower

Yields her tithes of fruit full-ripened,

Yields her bud and fragrant flower.

Yields her bud and fragrant flower.

Lo where sowed our Fathers, weeping

Where our martyrs rained their blood

Where our saints have prayed and suffered

Springs a harvest fair and good

Give her praise, ye fruitful orchards

Give her praise, ye swelling seas,

Far and wide, o’er hill and valley,

Waft her name, O balmy breeze.

Lift your voices, little children,

Maiden, youth and veteran pray

That our world again may flourish

‘Neath Our Lady’s gentle sway.

‘Neath Our Lady’s gentle sway.