The Catholic Church celebrates the death day of a saint as a feast day, which could be a birthday for him/her since on that day he or she begins to live an eternal life in the paradise. In exception to this tradition, there are three persons whose birthdays are celebrated as feast days: On June 24, birthday of St John de Baptist, on September 8, birthday of Mother Mary and on December 25, birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ. We solemnly celebrate the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8, who was born in Jerusalem. The first feast of the Nativity of Mary was celebrated in the 5th century in Jerusalem. Later the feast was brought to Rome in the 7th century. Her birth brought the dawn of hope and salvation for the crying earth and the suffering humanity. St. Alphonsus de Ligouri remarked: “A great saint is born. She is the Creator’s most beautiful soul.”
Mary, the new Eve is a great gift to the Church. The first Eve along with Adam committed sin and brought disasters in this world and death to us but the new Eve, Mother Mary collaborated with her son Jesus Christ in the destruction of sin and death and in the soteriological act. The first Eve yielded to the temptations, committed sin and brought curse on her but the new Eve, Mother Mary surmounted the temptations and lived her life gracefully.
In the darkness of our lives when we are in depression and feel dejected, she is a lighthouse of hope and comfort for us. She listens to the cry of the earth and cry of the poor. When we get drowned in the sea of sin, she directs us to the shore of salvation. In our loneliness she is with us and when the clouds of pessimism shroud us, she spreads on us the rays of optimism. As a hen protects her chicks under her feathers, likewise Mother Mary keeps us her children safe in her loving bosom. She is a wellspring of love, affection and compassion.
Mary is the joy of God the Father with whom he was pleased as she readily accepted His call to become the mother of His beloved Son. She is His masterpiece. Mary is the joy of Jesus in whose womb he would be conceived and in whose lap he would receive tender love and care. Mary is the joy of the Holy Spirit. He recognised her as His immaculate and faithful spouse on whom He was to descend for the conception of Jesus.
Mary was filled with a special grace. In her immaculate conception by the power of the Holy Spirit she remained holy and faithful to her Creator and surpassed all saints and angels.
Since Mary lived a pure, gracious and virtuous life, God the Father received her into heaven with body and soul. In this regard the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Assumption on August 15. In 1950 Pope Pius XII defined Mary’s Assumption into heaven as a dogma. On her feast day let us greet her saying: Happy Birthday, Mother Mary!