Overview:

The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A Reflection for the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise;
from you rose the sun of justice, Christ our God.

Find today’s readings here.

I spent many hours of my childhood at my grandparents’ house in Jersey City. Despite living in an urban neighborhood, they had a backyard much larger than my own. My siblings and I used that space for every purpose imaginable: baseball games, water balloon fights, Easter egg hunts. 

At the back of the yard, facing the house, my grandmother had a sprawling flower garden that was always bursting with seasonal blooms. And right in the center of the garden was a statue of Mary, the mother of Jesus. I never thought too hard about her being there. Her consistent presence throughout seasons and phases of life was simply a fact of my young life. 

I am thinking about that statue because on September 8, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in order to commemorate the entrance of Jesus’ mother into our world. 

Catholics are often surrounded by Marian iconography. I see her image every day on my Miraculous Medal, which I never take off. But my necklace, like the statue from my childhood, can sometimes become another mundane part of my daily existence rather than a constant reminder of Mary’s gift to the world. 

It might seem silly to tell Catholics to remember Mary today, since she is so frequently included in Church celebrations and prayer. Still, I appreciate the reminder. In the chaos of my life, I often feel like that kid running around in front of my grandmother’s statue, taking its presence for granted without stopping to think about why it is there. 

There is a reason Mary is so central to our art and our traditions. She is “deserving of all praise” because from her “rose the sun of justice.” 

All of these statues and necklaces and artwork focus on Mary because she is the best example of what it means to give your life to God. And just like the statue watching over my siblings and I as we played in the yard, she is with us as we go through our lives, guiding us through our moments of doubt and interceding on our behalf. 

On this feast day, let Mary’s remarkable faith inspire and strengthen our own.

Brigid McCabe is an O'Hare Fellow at America Media.