On 8 September, the Church celebrates the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a beautiful feast which invites us to rejoice in the gift of Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother.
Although the Bible does not tell us the details of Mary’s birth, the Church has celebrated her Nativity for many centuries. Her birthday points us towards something even greater: the birth of Jesus Christ. Mary was prepared by God’s grace to become the mother of the Saviour, and through her yes to God, she played a unique part in God’s plan of salvation.
Mary’s life reminds us that God can take what seems ordinary and make it extraordinary. She was a young woman from Nazareth, yet through her faith, humility and obedience, God entrusted her with the greatest mission imaginable.
As we celebrate Mary’s birthday, we can ask her to pray for us and for our families. May we learn from her example to listen to God, to trust Him even when we do not understand, and to say our own yes to His will.
Happy Birthday, Our Lady! May Mary, the Mother of Jesus, continue to lead us ever closer to her Son.