Links to articles about the Birth of the Virgin Mary

Catholic Encyclopedia: The Nativity of Mary

The page contains information on the history of the Feast. The feast originated from the Eastern churches and became part of the Roman Liturgy. The origin of date of September 8 for the feast is not explained.

Women for Faith and Family: The Birth of Mary

This is a page that gives a short explanation about the feast and provides information on its liturgical celebration including the readings for the day and the prayers for the Mass.

Work of God: The Nativity of Mary

An apocryphal account of the birth of the Virgin Mary in English based on the Latin translation made by Jerome. The story behind Jerome’s translation is provided through two letters, the first by the bishops who asked Jerome to translate and the other from Jerome himself.

EdaHoliday: September 8

The page describes how the feast of the Nativity of Mary is celebrated in some parts of the world.

A Prayer on the Feast of the Birthday of Mary

A Filipino’s tribute to the Virgin on her birthday

Readings for the Day

The feast of the birth of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary takes its significance from the Incarnation of the Word of God. Mary’s birthday is remembered precisely because it is a stage — an important one at that — in the preparation for that salvific event which is Christ himself. “When the fulness of time has come” writes Paul, “God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law to redeem those who were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons (Gal. 4:4-5)”. In this regard, the liturgical readings were chosen with a view to the birth of Jesus.

The first reading from Micah 5:2-4 is about the birth in Bethlehem of the Messiah. “Bethlehem” is especially addressed because in its humility, it will give forth greatness. The alternative reading from Romans 8:38-30 is the famous section on “predestination” and puts the role of the Virgin Mary right in the middle of salvation history. It also emphasizes the fact that Mary is not someone placed alongside Christ, she is rather to be seen among the faithful — as first among them, of course — who has received the grace of Christ ahead of time. Even the doctrine of the Immaculate conception which is related to the feast of the birth of Mary — tells us that God chose Mary and applied to her the graces won in the death and resurrection of the Lord in advance¹

The gospel reading is from Matthew’s genealogy where the focus is on the last line: “And Jacob begat Joseph, the husband of Mary from whom was born Jesus called the Messiah” (Matthew 1:15). The role of Mary in this genealogy is highlighted with the pattern of fathers begetting sons being broken.

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1. in advance from our point of view. In God’s view — which precludes future and past — the application was performed in the NOW [↩]