During this ninth month of the year, many interesting and
important event have happened; events that have changed the
world. Here are just a few to ponder:
On September 1, 1715, King Louis XIV of France
(the Sun King) died - he was one of France’s most interesting
Kings. Also on this day in 1939 at 5:30 am, Hitler invaded
Poland and World War II officially began in Europe. On September
2, 1666 London suffered its Great Fire beginning in a bakery
near the Tower of London; over three days’ time, more than
13,000 homes were destroyed, but only six lives were lost. Also
in England on this day in 1752, the British throughout the
Empire, including the 13 American Colonies, ended their use of
the Julian Calendar. It was replaced by the Gregorian Calendar,
which was promulgated by Pope Gregory, because it was a more
accurate way to mark the year. This resulted in a major
adjustment as Wednesday September 2 was immediately followed by
Thursday September 14. In 1923 the first election was held in
the Irish
Free State after achieving
independence from Britain.
September 3, 1783 saw the signing of The Treaty
of Paris which brought an end to the Revolutionary War; the
treaty was signed by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John
Jay. With this treaty, Great Britain recognized the United
States as an independent nation. In 1943, Italy signed an
armistice with the allies ending their support of the Axis
Nations in WW II.
As we move down we jump to the 5th,
which saw the death of Mother
Teresa of Calcutta in 1997 at the age of 87. On September 6,
1757 the Marquis de Lafayette was born. Later on he would come
to America in 1777 to volunteer in the American Revolution, and
he persuaded the French King (Louie XVI) to send 6,000 men to
help the U.S. On September 7, 1822, Brazil declared its
independence from Portugal and in 1940 the German Luftwaffe
began the Bombing Blitz of London. On the next day, the 8th,
in 1565 the first Catholic settlement in America
was founded by Spaniard Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles at St.
Augustine, Florida,
and on this day we
celebrate throughout the whole world the birth of The Blessed
Virgin Mary.
On September 9, 1948, an event occurred which is
causing us problems right now, for on this day the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea was proclaimed. We of course know it
better as
North Korea, and it is neither democratic or for its people!
Pray that God’s peace will overcome those in
that country who would see war and destruction.
Two days later one of the worst days in American
and World History occurred with the Terror Attacks on the World
Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the killing of the innocent
people on the 4 planes (remembering the one that went down in
Pennsylvania). On this day we remember, we pray, and we honor
all of those who lost their lives, especially all of the
emergency workers and volunteers that responded to this evil
event. We pray for all those who died, all those who lost a
loved one, and for those who survived who are hunted by these
events everyday.
On September 13, 1814, the Battle of Fort Henry
in Baltimore Harbor occurred. The battle was observed by Francis
Scott Key aboard a ship in the harbor. Key watched the attack by
the British overnight, but at dawn he saw the Stars and Stripes
still flying over the fort. He was inspired to write the verses
which later were set to music and became our National Anthem in
1931 (The Star Spangled Banner).
There is so much more to recount. You will just
have to wait to next September’s Knight Life for the rest!
Fr. Mike
Fr. Mike |
