Nativity of the Blessed Virgin

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin by Andrea di Bartolo

September 8 is the day when the Church commemorates the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Do we know the date of Mary's birth? Not from any records or birth certificates! But if you count back exactly nine months, you'll find yourself at another important date on the church calendar: the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. (This is a good way of remembering that the dogma of the Immaculate Conception is not about the conception of Jesus in Mary's womb but rather about the conception of Mary in the womb of her mother, Anna.)

In the history of the church calendar, the feast of Mary's birthday was observed long before the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was defined in 1854. The September 8 commemoration led to choosing December 8 as the date for celebrating the Immaculate Conception.

In the painting above, midwives and servants attend Mary's mother, Anna, on her bed, and her father, Joachim, in the anteroom.

Hail Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with you!

Blessed are you among women

and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners, 

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

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