Sunday, September 8th, This Sunday is the 16th Sunday after Pentecost. Being the 8th of September it is also the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin. The Church as a rule never celebrates the birthdays of her saints. She sees that even the greatest amongst those who have won the immortal crown of eternal life, succeeded only after a long and arduous struggle, having come into this world with the seeds of sin and death implanted in their very nature by the fall of our first parents, and their entire being exposed to the corruption and consequences of sin to the very last moment of their existence. To this rule, however, there are three exceptions. The first is naturally the birthday of Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the day on which the angels rejoiced and sang; "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will." An exception is also made in favor of St. John the Baptist, who was sanctified before his birth on the occasion of the visit of our Blessed Lady to her holy cousin, St. Elizabeth, and who was consequently born, I say born not conceived, without the guilt of original sin. And in the case of the Blessed Virgin, who was conceived and born immaculate, the Church celebrates with special joy and thanksgiving the memory of her glad nativity, which brought joyful tidings to the whole world as we sing in the office of the feast. After the fall of the first parents, Almighty God made the promise that He would send a woman to overthrow the kingdom of Satan. Ever since that promise mankind awaited with ardent longing and keen anxiety, the coming of that second Eve, by whom the children of our fallen race were to be restored to their lost inheritance through the merits of the Redeemer who was to be born of her. And the history of mankind shows that even when all other traditions became enveloped in ignorance, superstition and vice, the tradition of the expected holy Virgin seems to have lost none of its luster, even amongst the darkest shadows of paganism and infidelity. From the very fact of her predestination to be the mother of God, the soul and body of Mary were accordingly adorned with all the precious gifts and graces which Almighty God could bestow upon a creature thus destined from all eternity for so exalted a dignity. He, Who had done all things well, surely made His own most holy mother, the most beautiful and most perfect object of His entire creation. Nothing was left to chance. Mary was not only conceived and born without the stain of original sin, but she was rendered free from the first moment of her existence from its relics and consequences as defined solemnly by Pope Pius XII in the dogma of the Assumption. In her, there was no darkness of the understanding, weakness of will, or inclination to evil. Every thought and act of hers was sweetly ordered and controlled by the perfect exercise of her will, in perfect response to the flood of grace with which her most holy soul was filled from the very beginning. Hence, when Mary was born, she brought joy to the angels of heaven as their long expected queen, to the patriarchs, prophets, and all other holy souls in Limbo, and to all the children of men. On this feast the Church sings: "This is the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose glorious life illustrates the Universal Church. Let us sing glory to Christ with heart and mind on the sacred solemnity of Mary, the most excellent Mother of God. Let us celebrate with joy the nativity of the Blessed Mary... Thy nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, brought joyful tidings to the whole world, for out of thee arose the sun of Justice, Christ our Lord, who... By defeating death, has given us eternal life." Let us ask our Blessed Lady on her coming feast day for some very special favor, for as earthly kings and princes distributed favors on their birthday, so does our Immaculate Queen. Let us show her our love, loyalty and respect. And let us always remember that the best way to do so is to imitate her virtues, especially her faith and her charity. And then we shall find out by ourselves how true the words are applied from the Bible to our Blessed Lady: " He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from The Lord."
Posted on: Thu, 05 Sep 2013 12:31:36 +0000
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