September 8 – Feast of the nativity of our Mama Mary

September is here, the month that is welcomed as the start of the BER months and with Christmas, the nativity of Jesus Christ, as the highlight of DecemBER.

September 8 is an important date and occasion related to Christmas as well.

On this day, the Catholic Church celebrates, remembers the birth of Mama Mary, the nativity of Jesus Christ’s mother.

For more than 15 centuries, her birthday continues to be remembered "exactly nine months after December 8 --the feast of the Immaculate Conception-- the day on which the Virgin Mary herself was conceived in the womb of her mother, St. Anne."

We recall and again repeat what we wrote through the years about this date: “September 8 is a very happy day that the Lord has made! On this day, our Mama Mary was born, she who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, without sin, full of grace, blessed among women, blessed with the fruit of her womb, Jesus Christ!”

From the Liturgy, https://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/MARYBRTH.HTM, this reminder: "Let us celebrate with joy the birth of the Virgin Mary, of whom was born the Sun of Justice.... Her birth constitutes the hope and the light of salvation for the whole world.... Her image is light for the whole Christian people."

"Mary, the Daughter of Zion and ideal personification of Israel, is the last and most worthy representative of the people of the Old Covenant but at the same time she is the hope and the dawn of the whole world." (ETWN data sourced from the Dictionary of Mary, NY: Catholic Book, 1985).

The birth of Mary is ordained in particular toward her mission as mother of the savior. Her existence is indissolubly connected with that of Christ: it partakes of a unique plan of predestination and grace. The birth of Mary is inserted at the very heart of the history of salvation. She will work with the messiah to bring forth a new people.

We are celebrating her birthday because we love her, especially because her love for God continues to inspire/guide us to love God faithfully/gratefully/joyfully!

We again honor her today because we remember what is celebrated in the Angelus, a reminder of Mama Mary's response during the Annunciation: "Be it done to me according to thy word. And the Word was made flesh.And dwelt among us."

We are celebrating her birthday to thank her for her wonderful crucial role for our redemption, for her love for us all which she manifested when she consented to be part of God's plan for our redemption!

Because of her obedience/acceptance of God's will, she willingly agreed to become the mother of Jesus Christ, our Lord. It was an honor for her to be blessed among women, yes, but even as she witnessed and felt, and together, bore the pain of her son's passion and cross, Mama Mary obediently, immediately agreed to God’s plan.

Celebrating her birthday is our way of saying thank you to our loving mother and advocate of our salvation and our intercessor for our happy reunion with God!

Although not declared a special holiday, on this day, may we all remember that this is the day the Lord has made, a day we thank Mama Mary who joined God and his son restore us all, the whole humankind, back into their loving embrace.

Especially now that the world is going through troubled, fragile times, when some nations are escalating, rather than toning down, their military threats and confrontations, we are celebrating Mama Mary's birthday this year with our fervent prayer for her to, once again, intercede for us, for peace and protection for everyone, for our people, our country and our planet!

Happy, happy birthday and thank you, our dear Mama Mary!