2025-09-08 - Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Author: Fr. CamillusNwaigwe
8th of September 2025
(Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
Mic 5:1-4
Mt 1:1-16, 18-23
Let us celebrate the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, for from her rose the sun of justice, Christ our Lord. (Antiphon from the Roman Missal)
Nine months after the Immaculate conception of December 8, the Church gathers to celebrate the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Usually, the death day of a saint marks his/her feast day, considering it his/her "birthday in Heaven." The three exceptions are Jesus' birthday (Christmas), Mary's birthday (September 8), and John the Baptist's birthday (June 24). John the Baptist and Mary had a unique relationship with Jesus. Mary gave birth to Jesus and John the Baptist prepared people for his coming. Mary brought Jesus to the world, John tried to bring the world to Jesus.
Both the conception and nativity of Mary are not recorded in the Scripture, but traditions and early Christian writers of the first centuries cited them. The Protoevangelium of James describe the circumstances surrounding the birth of Mary by her parents Joachim and Anne. Her parents decided to offer her to God. For Augustine, her birth was significant. He sees her as a flower of the field from whom bloomed the precious lily of the valley. The celebration of this feast started around the sixth Century.
In the *First Reading*, the Prophet Micah prophesies that a male descendant will be born by a woman and this child will shepherd God's flock.
The *Gospel* traces the ancestry of Jesus from Abraham to Joseph. It goes on to tell us how Mary was chosen by God.
Dear friends, the birth of Mary is celebrated because of the birth of Jesus. This was because she became the mother of the Saviour. She is the one through whom we receive Emmanuel, God-with-us. Mary doesn't offer us herself; she offers us her Son. She holds out her Son to us. Just as we offer gifts to someone on his/her birthday, we are called to offer her a suitable birthday gift. What gift are you offering to Mary today? You may choose to adopt any of her virtues namely, obedience, total surrender to God, trusting faith in the power of God, the spirit of sacrificial and sharing love, etc.
Today we celebrate a woman who willingly gave birth, nursed, nurtured, and perfectly loved her Son from infancy to the foot of the cross. In Mary, we learn to love God all the days of our lives, reserving nothing. Loving God is not a thing of convenience.
Just Mary brought Jesus into the world, we are called to bring the message and love of Christ into the lives of those we meet.
Finally, the Gospel presents to us names of some imperfect human beings through whom salvation came to us. This is a reminder for us not to despise our roots. Even if your family history is not perfect, God can use it for His glory.
May the celebration of the Birth of Mary bring us God's blessings and love for her.
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