Today, we celebrate the birth of Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our Blessed Mother. This celebration reminds us of Mary’s shared humanity with each of us - it’s makes her real. Imagine the sense of joy and hopefulness that her birth brought to her parents Joachim and Ann - imagine them looking at her with love and wonderment, and perhaps sensing that she was special.
This gratitude for the gift of new life, of parenthood, of family came from Joachim and Ann’s love for God. In fidelity to God, they raised Mary to love and serve Him, so that when the angel Gabriel told Mary that she had been chosen to be the Mother of Jesus, it was her strong faith and trust shared by her parents that allowed her to say, "Yes" to God’s plan for her. This is the example for all parents who are believers in their role of salvation, not just for their children or family but far beyond - in ways that only God knows.
When we celebrate the Blessed Mother’s birth, we honor Jesus too. Today, we thank God for the gift of life, and we give honor to both Mary and Jesus by showing respect and concern for one another - remembering that God has created each person with love and with a call to something special in life.
In a renewed way, we pray for and work to secure the rights of unborn children - recognizing the hand of God in the goodness of their conception.
Though we cannot be certain what the future holds for any newborn child, we do know that the life of each person has meaning and purpose as evidenced by the birth and life of Mary. For when she was born, the world didn’t know who she was and yet over two thousand years later, we celebrate her birth and ask for her intercession for our needs with Jesus her Son.
This feast day on September 8th marks the end of summer and the beginning of fall, and with it come many thanksgiving celebrations and customs...
In France, winegrowers called this "Our Lady of the Grape Harvest." The best grapes are brought to the local church to be blessed and then some branches are attached to the hand of the statue of Mary.
In the Alps of Austria, this day is when the cattle and sheep are led down from the mountains decorated to mark the feast of Mary, along with the tradition of giving milk and food from this day in honor of Our Lady’s Nativity.
Our Lady’s birthday is the occasion for us to celebrate the first dawning of our redemption with the appearance of our Savior’s Mother.
Her life and mission is the highest given to any creature of God. We rejoice that the Mother of God is our Mother too.
Let her birthday renew our hope for the future and love for the precious gift of life beginning with conception - as it did with our Blessed Mother and each of us.
May God bless you and your families this holy day!
Father David's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
Reverend David S. Marcham is the Vice Postulator for the Cause of Venerable Patrick Peyton, and Director of the Father Peyton Guild, whose members pray for Father Peyton’s beatification and spread his message of the importance of Family Prayer. Prior to becoming a seminarian, Father David was a physical therapist and clinical instructor, serving hospital inpatients and outpatients throughout the greater Boston area for eleven years. In 1998 he heard the call to priesthood and was ordained in the Archdiocese of Boston in 2005. Father David grew up in Quincy, MA, and has fond memories of playing soccer, tennis and running track. You’re never without a friend when Father David is around, as he welcomes everyone into his circle with a smile on his face!
