Catholic Saints

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary refers to the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary by her parents St. Anne and St. Joachim.  The Catholic Church celebrates Mary’s birthday on September 8^th, nine months after the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated on December 8^th.   

The Feast, like the Assumption of Mary, originated in Jerusalem.  It began in the fifth century as the Feast of the “Basilica Sanctae Mariae ubi nata est”, now called the Basilica of St. Anne.  In the seventh century, the feast was celebrated at Rome as the Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary.   

The scene was frequently depicted in art, as part of cycles of the Life of the Virgin Mary.  These late medieval depictions are often valuable records of domestic interiors from their period, and were often in a wealthy household.  Apostolic tradition places Mary’s birthplace either in the Church of Saint Anne in Jerusalem, or in Tzippori, Israel where St. Anne once lived.  

We as Catholics, celebrate the birth of Mary, as this is truly the “Birth of Salvation”.  We know that Mary went on to give birth to Jesus, our Savior.  Many faithful throughout the world hold a birthday party for Mary, and celebrate to commemorate that beautiful event.  Here is a prayer that can be said on this Feast Day.  

Prayer  

Impart to your servants, we pray, O Lord, the gift of heavenly grace that the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin may bring deeper peace to those for whom the birth of her Son was the dawning of salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.