The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Fr. Scott Haynes

 

Introduction

 

The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated on September 8th, holds a profound place in the heart of the Church. While the birth of Mary is not described in detail in Sacred Scripture, its significance has been revered since the earliest days of the Church. Tradition and the writings of the Church Fathers, saints, and popes offer a rich tapestry of reflections on this singular moment in salvation history.

 

Mary's nativity marks the dawn of the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan, for she is the one chosen to bear the Savior. This meditation will explore the scriptural and theological significance of the Blessed Virgin's birth, drawing from the insights of the Church Fathers and the saints, as well as stories of miracles associated with this feast.

 

Scriptural Foundations

 

Although the Bible does not directly recount the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it sets the stage for understanding her role in salvation history. The most significant prophecies that foreshadow Mary's birth and mission are found in the Old Testament. The book of Genesis offers the first glimpse of her in what is known as the Protoevangelium:

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15).

 

This passage not only foretells the coming of Christ but also the special role of His mother, the “woman” who will play a part in crushing the serpent. The Church has long seen Mary as this woman, and her birth is the dawn of that victory over sin.

 

The Gospel of Matthew connects Christ's genealogy with significant women, including the Virgin Mary, showing that her life was intimately connected with God's providential plan (Matthew 1:1-16). St. Paul also indirectly highlights the importance of Mary's role in his letter to the Galatians:

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship” (Galatians 4:4-5).

Although Mary’s nativity is not recorded in these texts, the foundations for her importance are embedded within the arc of salvation history, as the chosen vessel to bring forth the Redeemer.

 

Tradition and the Apocryphal Writings

 

The Protoevangelium of James, an early Christian text, offers the earliest detailed account of Mary’s birth. Though not considered canonical, this work profoundly shaped the Church's understanding of Mary's early life. According to this account, Mary's parents, Saints Joachim and Anne, were devout Jews who remained childless for many years. Their prayers and fasting were answered by the angelic announcement that they would bear a daughter. This moment is seen as the beginning of a divine sequence of events leading to the Incarnation.

 

The story of Joachim and Anne resonates with other miraculous births in the Old Testament, such as the births of Isaac, Samuel, and Samson. In each case, God intervened to bring forth a child who would play a pivotal role in the unfolding of His divine plan. The birth of Mary mirrors these, but it is even more profound, as she would become the Mother of God.

 

Insights from the Church Fathers

 

The Church Fathers were instrumental in shaping the theological understanding of Mary's nativity. St. Augustine of Hippo emphasized the unique holiness of Mary's birth, for she was conceived to be the immaculate vessel for Christ. Though St. Augustine primarily focused on the Immaculate Conception in his works, the implicit holiness of Mary from her very birth was essential in his theological framework:

“Mary was chosen in a unique way, and her birth heralded the coming of the Savior... She was conceived in purity, so that the all-holy Son of God could take His flesh from her.” (Augustine, De Natura et Gratia).

 

St. John Damascene, a great defender of Marian theology, celebrated the feast of Mary’s birth with great joy. In his homilies, he underscored that her birth brought hope to all humanity:

“Today, the bridge between heaven and earth is built. God prepares the way for the Incarnation, for the birth of the Queen of Heaven signifies the approach of salvation for mankind.” (John Damascene, Homily on the Nativity of the Theotokos).

 

For St. Andrew of Crete, the birth of Mary was nothing short of a cosmic event, a “prelude to the joy of the universe” and a moment where the darkness of sin begins to recede in the light of her arrival:

“Let the whole creation sing praise and dance and unite to celebrate the joy of this day... For the birth of the Theotokos is the prelude to the grace and truth that is Christ.” (Andrew of Crete, Sermon on the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin).

 

Insights from the Saints

 

The saints throughout history have celebrated the Nativity of the Virgin Mary with great devotion. St. Bernard of Clairvaux, renowned for his devotion to Our Lady, spoke about her birth as a time of joy not just for her parents, but for the entire world:

“The Virgin’s birth is a new light for the world, a new dawn rising to banish the shadows of sin. For from her was born the Sun of Justice, Christ our God.” (Bernard of Clairvaux, Homily on the Nativity of the Virgin Mary).

 

In a similar vein, St. Alphonsus Liguori, known for his profound Marian writings, encouraged devotion to the feast of Mary’s Nativity, seeing it as a chance for all Christians to renew their hope in Christ through Mary’s intercession:

“The birth of Mary announces to the world the coming of its Savior, and thus the festival of the Nativity of Mary is a time for us to reflect on the infinite love of God for humanity in giving us such a perfect and loving Mother.” (Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary).

 

Papal Reflections on Mary's Nativity

 

Several popes have offered profound reflections on the significance of Mary's birth. Pope Pius X, in his encyclical Ad Diem Illum Laetissimum, highlights the intimate connection between Mary's birth and Christ’s mission of redemption:

“The holy nativity of the Virgin Mother, born without stain, marked the beginning of the final chapter of the divine plan, for it was through her that the Redeemer entered the world” (Pius X, Ad Diem Illum Laetissimum, 1904).

 

Pope John Paul II spoke about the importance of Mary’s nativity in his Marian catecheses, emphasizing that her birth was “a sign of hope for the world” because it signaled the approach of Christ, the one who would conquer sin and death:

“Mary, in her birth, brings the first rays of the dawn of salvation to a world that awaited its Redeemer with hope. Her birth gives light to all humanity, for it prepares the way for the coming of Christ” (General Audience, September 8, 1998).

 

Miracles Related to the Feast of the Nativity

 

The Feast of the Nativity of Mary has long been associated with numerous miracles. In the medieval period, there are accounts of miraculous healings and interventions on this feast day, especially when the faithful invoked Mary’s intercession.

 

One such account is the miracle of Chartres in 911, during which the city of Chartres, France, was under attack by Viking forces. The bishop of Chartres led a procession with a relic of the Virgin Mary’s veil on September 8th, and after fervent prayers, a sudden storm arose, dispersing the enemy forces and saving the city. This miracle has been attributed to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, invoked particularly on her birthday.

 

Similarly, in Italy, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Nativity in Loreto was built to honor the Virgin Mary and became a site of numerous miraculous cures over the centuries, especially on her feast day. Pilgrims would travel to the basilica to celebrate her birth, and many reported being healed of various ailments after praying before the statue of Our Lady.

 

The Spiritual Significance of the Feast

 

The Nativity of Mary reminds the faithful of the central role that the Mother of God plays in the mystery of salvation. Her birth signifies that God’s long-awaited plan for the redemption of humanity is now unfolding. For Christians, this feast is an opportunity to reflect on Mary’s unique vocation and her constant maternal care for the Church.

 

Mary's birth is also a moment of deep personal reflection. Just as her birth was a moment of joy for Joachim and Anne, so too are we invited to experience the joy of being children of God. The Church invites us to recognize in Mary’s birth the promise of new beginnings, of grace, and of a fresh relationship with Christ.

 

Conclusion

 

The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is not merely a historical commemoration but a living celebration of the hope, love, and grace that Mary brings to the Church. Her birth is a prelude to the Incarnation, the moment when the Mother of God first enters the world, predestined to cooperate in the redemption of mankind.

 

As we celebrate this feast, may we, like the Church Fathers, saints, and popes who came before us, draw closer to Mary, seeking her maternal intercession and striving to emulate her purity, humility, and perfect obedience to God’s will. Through her birth, the dawn of salvation breaks forth, and with her, we too can rejoice in the coming of the Light of the World, Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior.