On Sunday, September 29, 2019, St. Mary’s celebrated the Feast of the Dedication of St. Michael the Archangel (Michaelmas).
The ancient Roman Christians marked this day as the Feast of All Angels. The sixth century Dedication of the Church of St. Michael the Archangel in the Roman Circus was later joined with this celebration.
There are several traditions associated with Michaelmas which St. Mary’s observed.
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Certain daisies are associated with Michaelmas. For this reason, the High Altar was adorned with daisies.
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There are several traditional foods associated with Michaelmas, one being blackberries. As the poster in the pictures relates, according to an old Irish folk tale, blackberries were supposed to have been harvested and used up by this date since it is told to children that when Satan was kicked out of Heaven, he landed in a blackberry patch — and returns each year to curse and spit on the fruits of the plant he landed on, rendering them inedible after.
There are also special baked goods associated with this feast, including St. Michael’s Bannock (a type of bread).
The poster and food items were made by St. Mary’s faithful.
