September 7 Canonizations: The Many Wonders of This Date

From St Cloud, whose Feast is today, to the founding of the Legion of Mary by the SG Frank Duff, 7 September is a day of great significance.

From Aleteia

By Cerith Gardiner

From saints to foundings, September 7 has long marked moments of hope, courage, and new beginnings.

In Vatican City, this upcoming September 7 will shine with joyous celebration: two extraordinary young Catholics, Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, will be declared saints together. The Vatican’s announcement described it as a “symbolic pairing” -- uniting a tech-savvy millennial from the 21st century with an early 20th-century mountain-climber and servant of the poor. Though generations apart, both shared a contagious faith, a love for life, and a heart for others that have stirred countless people worldwide.

While these canonizations will add even more importance to the date of September 7, there are plenty of other inspiring events that have taken place, or are remembered, on the same date throughout history. Below, you'll find some key moments that have shaped this date, and make it the perfect time for celebrating these two saints!

A compassionate saint

September 7 has long been associated with holiness and service within the Christian tradition. On this day, the Church honors figures like St. Clodoald -- better known as St. Cloud – a 6th-century prince who made a radical choice for peace. Orphaned amid the violent power struggles of the Frankish royal court, young Clodoald escaped assassination and renounced his claim to the throne, choosing instead to embrace a life of humility and prayer.

As the Catholic Telegraph shared, he “escaped from violent political intrigue to pursue holiness as a monk and priest,” giving up worldly power to serve God and the poor. St. Cloud’s feast on September 7 is a reminder that true greatness is found not in titles or crowns, but in character and compassion -- his story of trading a kingdom for a monastery has inspired generations to value faith over ambition.

A movement of service

This date also saw the birth of a modern movement of service. On September 7, 1921, a young Irishman named Frank Duff gathered a small group in Dublin and founded the Legion of Mary. It was a simple idea with powerful intent: to help ordinary laypeople live out their baptismal calling through organized acts of charity, all under the patronage of Mary.

Duff’s first volunteers began by visiting hospital patients and caring for the most destitute in the city. From that humble start on a September evening (fittingly, the eve of Mary’s birthday), the Legion of Mary blossomed into the world’s largest Catholic lay apostolate, with millions of members serving in nearly every country.

Legion members -- often unsung and unseen -- spend their free hours praying the Rosary, befriending the lonely, teaching the faith, and extending kindness in their communities.

The vigil of Mary's birth

The fact that this quiet army of do-gooders traces its inception to September 7 is another testament to the date’s inspirational character. It’s as if Our Lady’s spirit of care touched that day and left a legacy of fraternity and prayerful service that is still flourishing a century later.

And we cannot forget that September 7 falls on the threshold of one of Christianity’s beloved celebrations – the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8. In many places, the evening of the 7th is observed as the vigil of Mary’s birth, honoring the one called Queen of Peace.

This connection made September 7 an especially meaningful choice in 2013 when Pope Francis would link the date to a global peace initiative. But even in the ages before that, knowing that Mary’s birthday dawns with September 7’s sunset has given the date a gentle, hopeful glow in the Christian imagination – a sense that something new and good is about to be born. Maybe even giving us that chance of peace that Pope Leo has been calling for.

A day for new beginnings

On a more personal scale, September 7 has also been a day when individuals have demonstrated that it’s never too late for a new beginning. A beautiful example of this is Grandma Moses -- one of America’s most famous folk artists -- who just so happened to be born on September 7, 1860. Anna Mary Robertson Moses spent decades of her life as a farmer’s wife, raising children and working hard, with little time for art. Only in her later years did she finally pick up a paintbrush seriously. In fact, she began painting in earnest at the age of 78, fulfilling a childhood dream long deferred.

In honor of her 100th birthday, New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller declared September 7, 1960 as “Grandma Moses Day,” celebrating her artistic achievements and indomitable spirit. Ever since, Grandma Moses Day is observed on her birthday each year as a tribute to late bloomers and lifelong learners. The story of Grandma Moses makes September 7 a celebration of creativity, perseverance, and the idea that it’s never too late to blossom. Her life shows that new talents can emerge at any age -- a fitting reminder, on this date of many new beginnings, that the human spirit can surprise us at every turn.

In the end, the significance of September 7 is a celebration of hope. It is a date that, woven through history, calls us to be a little braver and a little kinder. As we mark this day, we carry forward its legacy by living with the same spirit of uplift and reflection that it embodies. After all, the true inspiration of September 7 lies in what it teaches us: that every day holds the potential for holiness, heroism, and new horizons – and that is something truly worth celebrating.

Pictured: Servant of God Frank Duff, Founder of the Legion of Mary