Today’s Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin comes on
the Liturgical Calendar exactly nine months after the Feast of her Immaculate
Conception. Just like the Solemnity of
Christmas—the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus—comes on the Liturgical Calendar
exactly nine months after the Feast of the Annunciation—when the Word was made
flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
The day Mary was born ranks as one of the
most beautiful in human history. Yet,
nothing explicitly is recorded in Scripture about Mary’s birth. In fact, according to certain traditions, no
one in the small town of Nazareth where Joachim and Anne lived paid heed to her
birth. Although the blood of David flowed in her veins, although she was the
virgin about whom Isaiah prophesied, she like her Son had truly had humble
beginnings. Though her birth went
unnoticed by her countrymen, one Church Father said that the angels could not
find adequate praises to express their joy to the Blessed Trinity for having
created this most beautiful of creatures.
The Prayer after Communion today says “May your Church
exult, O Lord…as she rejoices in the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which
was the hope and the daybreak of salvation for all the world.”
The Prophet Malachi prophesied the coming of Christ, calling
him the “Sun of Justice” who will arise with healing in his rays. If Christ is compared to the shining Sun,
Mary is the daybreak, the perfect dawn.
At dawn here begin to see the light of the Sun on the horizon, and we
see the light of Christ already beginning to rise through Mary, in her perfect
faith, hope and love, in her beautiful virtue.
Saint Thomas of Villanova explained in sermon that Mary is
the heavenly dawn, not only for the world, but especially for each individual
soul. Mary is at work, praying for each
on of us, that the light of Christ may fill our hearts all the more.
If there exists any darkness in our soul and hearts, any
hint of selfishness, coldness, any lack of charity, if our hearts are in need
of any healing whatsoever, we do well to turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary’s
assistance in overcoming that darkness.
Just as God brought Christ into the world through Mary, he
wishes to bring Christ into our hearts through Mary.
The Immaculate Mother came into the world at a time when
many of God’s people had lost hope in a Messiah, just as many have lost sight
of Christ the Sun in our modern day. Sometimes
God waits until we are on the brink of the abyss before extending His hand of
mercy. I know a priest who is very fond of the saying, “the night is always
darkest, right before the dawn”. So, let
us never become discouraged in our spiritual lives and in our hopes for
salvation. For the Feast of the Birth of
the Blessed Virgin fills our hearts with hope and joy in the glory of God and
salvation of souls.
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