When Is Holy Mary’s Birthday?
According to Catholic tradition, Holy Mary’s birthday is celebrated on September 8th, known as the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This date holds great significance in the Christian calendar and is an occasion for celebration and reflection on Mary’s life and legacy.
Significance of the Nativity of Mary
The Nativity of Mary holds profound significance as it marks the transition from the stage of expectation and promises in the Old Testament to the era of grace and salvation through Jesus Christ in the New Testament. Mary’s birth is intimately connected with her mission as the Mother of the Savior. It is believed that God’s plan for the Incarnation of the Word included Mary as His chosen Mother, making her birth an integral part of the History of Salvation.
Although the details of Mary’s birth are not explicitly mentioned in Sacred Scripture, pious tradition holds that her parents, Saints Anne and Joachim, initially faced infertility. Through God’s grace, Anne conceived in her old age, defying any natural limitations, and Mary was born as a result of this miraculous conception. Thus, Mary’s birth symbolizes the fulfillment of divine promises and the dawning of a new era where God’s grace and salvation would be brought into the world through her and her Divine Child, Jesus Christ.
The Story of Mary’s Birth
The story of Mary’s birth is not directly recorded in the Bible, but it is preserved in the Protoevangelium of James and other early Christian writings. According to tradition, Mary’s parents, Saints Anne and Joachim, had struggled with infertility for many years. However, like Sarah and Elizabeth in the Bible, Anne conceived in her old age and gave birth to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Catholic Church celebrates Mary’s birthday on September 8th, exactly nine months after the feast of her Immaculate Conception. The purpose of this dating is not based on historical accuracy, but rather serves a liturgical purpose in recalling the mysteries associated with Mary. The Protoevangelium of James describes how Mary’s parents dedicated her to God as a consecrated Virgin, and she later entered into a chaste marriage with Joseph, the carpenter.
The birth of Mary is seen as a significant event leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ and is considered a reflection of God’s plan for salvation. It highlights the miraculous power of God in granting the prayers of Saints Anne and Joachim, enabling them to conceive a child who would play a pivotal role in the redemption of mankind. The story of Mary’s birth honors her as the chosen vessel through which the Son of God would enter the world.
