A Birthday Gift for Our Blessed Mother
September 8 – Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Tomorrow, the Church celebrates a special occasion: the birthday of our Blessed Mother, Mary. While the Gospels do not record the details of her birth, Christian tradition has long held this day in honor as the dawn of salvation. With Mary’s birth, the world received the one chosen to bear Christ, the Light of the World.
Just as the rising sun dispels the night, Mary’s arrival foreshadowed the coming of Jesus, our Redeemer. St. Andrew of Crete once said, “Today a new world is created, enriched by the gift of a new nature; for today the Creator fashions His own temple for Himself, and the creature becomes a dwelling place for the Creator.”
Today, a new world is created, enriched by the gift of a new nature; for today, the Creator fashions His own temple for Himself, and the creature becomes a dwelling place for the Creator.
St. Andrew of Crete
Why We Celebrate
Mary’s birthday is not only about her, but about God’s love for us. From her humble life sprang the hope of the nations. She is our Mother, given to us at the foot of the Cross, and she continues to intercede for us with tenderness and care.
When we celebrate her birthday, we are reminded that our own lives too are part of God’s plan. Each birth carries with it a promise and purpose, just as Mary’s did.
With St. Anne, Our Patroness
As we rejoice in the birth of Mary, we also remember her holy parents—St. Joachim and St. Anne. At St. Anne’s Parish, this feast day is especially close to our hearts. St. Anne, our patroness and the mother of Our Blessed Mother, reminds us of the quiet yet powerful role of family in God’s plan of salvation.
Through her steadfast faith and nurturing love, St. Anne prepared the way for Mary to become the vessel of the Incarnation. On this day, we entrust our parish, our families, and our intentions to her maternal intercession, asking her to guide us closer to her daughter, Mary, and ultimately to Jesus.
A Gift We Can Offer
On her birthday, we might ask: what can we give to the Mother of our Lord? More than flowers or candles, the gift Mary desires most is a heart that says yes to God—just as she did at the Annunciation. We honor her best when we live out her example of humility, obedience, and faith.
Prayer to Our Blessed Mother and St. Anne
Blessed Mother Mary, on this day we rejoice with heaven and earth at your birth. Thank you for saying yes to God, for carrying Christ into the world, and for guiding us always to your Son. Help us to imitate your faith, your humility, and your love.
St. Anne, holy mother of Our Blessed Mother, intercede for us. Watch over our parish family as you once watched over Mary. Strengthen our faith, bless our homes, and lead us ever closer to Jesus, your grandson and our Lord. Amen.
✨ Happy Birthday, Mama Mary! May this feast draw us closer to Jesus through the heart of His Mother, with the intercession of St. Anne, our patroness.