Happy Birthday, Mama

As we celebrate the birthday of Mary on 8 September, let us ponder about the truth of this feast day. 

http://www.americancatholic.org/e-News/FriarJack/fj091404.asp

What is the Nativity of Mary?

Why is Mary’s birthday important?

It is difficult for us to imagine not having Mary, the Mother of Jesus, in our faith, our Church and our very lives. She is indeed God’s gift. Jesus himself gave her to us as Mother when from the cross he told the apostle, John, “Behold, your mother” (Jn 19:27). Her importance in the Church is realized in all her feast days that tie her so closely to the whole story of salvation. September 8 marks Mary’s birthday. Ancient tradition tells us her parents were named Anna and Joachim (feast day July 26). Isn’t it good to know that Jesus had grandparents? This is another wonderful reminder of how “human” the Son of God became when he was conceived by Mary and took on a human nature like ours.

Is it the same as the Incarnation?

It is not unusual for people to confuse Mary’s Immaculate Conception (December 8) with the moment of Jesus’ own conception—the Incarnation (March 25). Mary was conceived by her parents the way all of us are conceived. It was at the moment of her conception by her mother, however, that Mary was preserved from all stain of original sin. Thus, she remained totally sinless throughout her life. The conception of Jesus, the Incarnation, was accomplished by the overshadowing of Mary by the Holy Spirit—a truly miraculous and mysterious moment in human history. Because Jesus is divine (as well as human), the Church rightly calls Mary the “Mother of God.”

Why was Mary holy?

It is also important to understand that Mary’s holiness was not a result of the conception of Jesus. If you think about it, any woman could have given flesh to the Messiah. Of course, God wanted the absolute best and prepared Mary for the role as mother of “the Son of God” (Lk 1:35). Her holiness was and is based on the very same fact that all the saints and all our holiness must based on: our seeking to live out the will of God and the gospel of Jesus.

One thing is absolutely certain: Mary, the “handmaid of the Lord,” sought God’s will every moment of her life and followed it perfectly. Jesus said as much when he answered a woman in the crowd who cried out, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts at which you nursed.” Jesus’ response was, “Rather blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it” (Lk 11:27-28). Mary was indeed privileged to be the mother of the redeemer. But more than that, Mary’s constant gift of herself to God and openness to God's gift or God’s plan for her was what allowed God to fill her completely with his grace and life.

Did Mary know?

When Mary began her life, she could not have known all that she would face and experience in the years to come. None of us can. But we know that there was never a single moment in her life, whether in joy or her terrible sufferings, that the Lord was not with her.

The same is true of our lives. Mary’s journey took her to the foot of the cross where her heart was pierced (Lk 2:35) just as Jesus’ heart was pierced by a soldier’s lance in death (Jn 19:34). If there is anyone we can look to for companionship on our own journeys, especially in times of suffering, it is Mary, Jesus’ own mother, whom he gave to us from the cross.