There are many special feast days celebrated in honor of Mary: her Assumption, her Immaculate Conception, the Annunciation, and of course, today, the celebration of her birth. The feasts of the Our Lady are dear to us because she is our mother.
But, If you listen closely to all of the prayers of this Mass for Mary’s birthday, you’ll notice that Jesus is mentioned in every one of the prayers. Even the Gospel, wasn’t the story about her birth, but the birth of her Son. On Mary’s birthday, shouldn’t we just be focusing on her? Can’t Mary just have a day to herself?
Well, what would she say, if you asked her that? Certainly, Mary would never want to be separated from her Son. Her entire life points to Him. Mary never is so selfish just to take a day to herself. Her whole life is focused on giving Jesus to the world.
Saint Andrew of Crete explains how Mary’s birth is cause for joy because it is an important stage in our salvation. He says, “all creation sings with joy, exults, and participates in the joy of this day....for this is, in fact, the day on which the Creator of the world constructed His temple; today is the day on which by a stupendous project a creature becomes the preferred dwelling of the Creator"
She is a Temple, she is THE Temple, in which God comes to dwell. There is an ancient hymn which expresses this profound relationship between Mary and Christ. Listen to a few verses.
1. Mary the dawn, Christ the Perfect Day; Mary the gate, Christ the Heavenly Way!
2. Mary the root, Christ the Mystic Vine; Mary the grape, Christ the Sacred Wine!
3. Mary the wheat, Christ the Living Bread; Mary the stem, Christ the Rose blood-red!
4. Mary the font, Christ the Cleansing Flood; Mary the cup, Christ the Saving Blood!
5. Mary the temple, Christ the temple’s Lord; Mary the shrine, Christ the God adored!
6. Mary the beacon, Christ the Haven’s Rest; Mary the mirror, Christ the Vision Blest!
7. Mary the mother, Christ the mother’s Son. Both ever blest while endless ages run. Amen.
Her whole life points to Jesus. Her whole life was focused on Him. She was born and made for this purpose, and we are so grateful, for she was faithful to this purpose every moment of her life. This is why Our Lady is the model on which each of us is to base our life, why she is the perfect disciple of Jesus. Everything about her, even her birth, points to him. May we do the same, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
To Our Lady’s most powerful intercession, we recommend ourselves and the entire Church.
That Our Lady may bring constant guidance and assistance to the Holy Father and the Bishops in their apostolic mission, and aid all who help them in their work.
That all government leaders may be awakened to the supreme dignity of each human life, and that all people of our nation may work together for an end to the culture of death.
That through Immaculate Mary, Queen of Peace, hatred, violence, and cruelty will cease in the world.
That the sick may draw strength, consolation, and healing by turning to Our Lady, who intercedes for us from her place in heaven.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
We pray, O Lord our God, that the Virgin Mary, who merited to bear God and man in her chaste womb,
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