St. Mary Parish, Manchester at 210 West Main Street, Manchester, MI 48158 US - The Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Sept 8
|
The Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Sept 8 |
 |
Nine months after the solemnity of her Immaculate Conception in the womb of her mother, St. Anne, the Church celebrates with great joy the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The liturgical calendar of the Church commemorates the dies natale of her saints, the day of their death and thus their birth into eternal life. There are two exceptions to this: the Blessed Virgin Mary (September 8th) and St. John the Baptist (June 24th). Both are honored with the recognition of their births into this life and of their entrance into eternal life (The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15th and the Beheading of St. John the Baptist on August 29th). Their births are significant for the Church for they herald the immediate coming of the Savior.
The Preface of “Mary, Cause of our Joy” found in the Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary states very beautifully the reason why we celebrate the life of Mary.
Her blessed birth
heralded joy for all the world.
Her virgin-motherhood
brought forth the true Light,
the source of all joy.
Her hidden life
brings light and warmth
to all the Churches of the world.
Her passing into glory
raised her to the heights of heaven,
where, as our sister and our mother,
she waits for us with loving care
until we too enjoy the vision of your glory for ever.
As members of St. Mary Church, a parish church named in honor of the holy Virgin, it is important that we her spiritual children celebrate with great joy her earthly birthday. Her birth marks the dawn of our salvation, and her Assumption into heavenly glory is the pattern that we hope to follow.
Thank you heavenly Father for the gift of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose fruitful interior life and spotless womb brought forth in the flesh your co-eternal Son. By her free and loving consent and through the power of the Holy Spirit she has become the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church, and the Mother of our brother and our Savior.
So on the feast of her nativity we honor our heavenly Mother with a hymn of joy:
Daily, daily sing to Mary;
Sing with joy her praises due!
All her feasts, her actions honor
With the hearts devotion true.
Lost in wond’ring contemplation,
Be her majesty confessed!
Call her Mother, call her Virgin,
Happy Mother, Virgin blest!
—Fr. Tim