So today is September 8th, the Nativity of Our Lady; the celebrated feast day of the birthday of Our Mother. For over 1500+ years now, the Church has celebrated this day to commemorate her birth, and as such, the beginning of a new act in the drama of salvation as deigned by God.
For my Catholic readers, as we pause to reflect today on the birth of the Mother of our Saviour, and Our Mother, let us remember that Our Lady would ask for nothing more of a "birthday present", if you will, then for us to conform to the image of her Son. She points the way, unceasingly, to He who is the Light, the Bread that came down from heaven, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. In all that is her example, what she reminds us of is summed up beautifully in her words at the marriage feast at Cana, where Christ proclaimed the coming of the Kingdom of God by enacting His first public miracle, where she simply says "Do whatever he tells you." John 2:5 May we do just that today, and always. Remember your Mother today and ask Her to bring you to the throne of God in Prayer. And since, being steeped in Church history as we are today (and every day for that matter), a good way to do that would be to recite the Angelus.
For my Protestant readers, whether you are aware of this celebration or not, I would ask that you pause in consideration of the magnitude of the role that Mary has played in the history of salvation. From the promise in the Garden of Eden, to the robed figure in Revelation, Mary is inextricably wrapped up with us in adoration of our Lord; or to put it another way she embodies perfectly the ones St. Paul spoke of when he mentioned those "...whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be made conformable to the image of His Son that He might be the firstborn amongst many brethren." Rom 8:28-29 She is the model of love, humility, and self-sacrifice that we would all do well to emulate.
I could in no way sum it up better than how St. Peter Damian did in a homily on the subject:
"Beloved, the birthday of the pure and most blessed Mother of God brings us a special and indeed unparalleled joy, for the good reason that her birth marked the beginning of all human salvation.
In a way impossible to express, almighty God knew, even before human beings were created, that they would perish through the machinations of the devil, but, again before the ages began, his infinite love also formed a plan for their redemption. Not only did he decide, as part of this infinitely wise plan, the manner and order of redemption; he also determined beforehand the moment in time when he would carry out his plan.
Accordingly, just as the Son of God had to be born of the Virgin if the human race was to be redeemed, so also it was necessary for the Virgin to be born through whom the Word was to become flesh. The bridal chamber had first to be constructed that would receive the bridegroom as he came for his marriage with holy Church, the bridegroom for whom David with spiritual joy sang the wedding song that described the Lord as a bridegroom coming from his wedding chamber.
Rightly, then, is the whole earth filled with joyous exultation today; rightly does the entire holy Church sing songs of praise at the birth of the Mother of her Spouse. Let us therefore rejoice, beloved, on this day on which we pay homage to the birth of the blessed Virgin and celebrate the beginning of all the feasts of the New Covenant. If Solomon and the Israelites celebrated with great solemnity such a rich and magnificent sacrifice for the dedication of a temple made of stone, how great and intense should be the joy of the Christian people at the birth of the Virgin Mary, into whose womb, as into the holiest of temples, God himself deigned to descend, there to take human nature from her and dwell visibly with human beings! For while we must believe that God indeed descended into Solomon's temple, in a far more wonderful and fruitful way did he deign to abide for our sake in this spiritual sanctuary, that is, the womb of the blessed Virgin, in which the Word became flesh and dwelt among us."
Holy Mary, Mother of the Word Incarnate, from the bottom of my heart I thank you for all of the prayers you have lovingly prayed for me and the graces which those prayers have obtained. Today, as we remember your birth, and there-by the birth of our Savior, I ask for your prayers for His Church; may we who have created division among ourselves be brought together in unity and strength. Amen.
The Angelus
The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen
Behold the handmaid of the Lord:
Be it done unto me according to Thy Word.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen
And the Word was made Flesh:
And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the Promises of Christ.
Let us Pray: Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
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