Special Feasts Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

We celebrated not one but two Feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary last week. While there is no shortage of days set aside to honor her, we should stop to reflect on these Feasts. On September 8th we celebrate the Nativity (birth) of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and on the 12th  we honor the Most Holy Name of Mary.

We all love to celebrate the birthdays of our family and friends, so of course we should be excited to honor one who is mother, advocate, mentor, and friend all at the same time. In the Catholic Church we usually observe someone’s day of death (the day of their entrance into Heaven). There are only two Saints for whom we make an exception; they are St John the Baptist and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Both are great Saints, who we would do well to imitate in
our own lives, this is especially true of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Due to her Immaculate Conception, there can be no better guide and model for us in our own journey through life than Mary. Through her Immaculate Conception Our Lady was left free from all stain of Original Sin, she is the only one not to inherit the sin of our first parents. Thus Mary spent every moment of her life in seeking and doing the will of God, she will teach us to do the same if we allow her to.

We must not fail to call Mary’s name along our way, when we say her name she intercedes with God for us. When a
person’s name is referred to in the Bible or within the liturgy it is an expression of their personality of their whole being or nature, and is more than just a way to distinguish them from everyone else. For Christians (especially
Catholics), the name of Mary is a sacramental which is always spoken with deepest piety and love. St Bernard of Clairvaux calls Mary the “star of the sea” and then continues, 
“ Rightly is she likened to a star. As a star emits a ray without being dimmed, so the Virgin brought forth her Son without receiving any injury. The ray takes naught from the brightness of the star, nor the Son from His Mothers virginal integrity.This is the noble star risen out of Jacob … Mary is that bright and incomparable star, whom we need to see raised above this vast sea, shining by her merits and giving us light by her example."

So let us run to Mary with all our needs, she knows what we need and will give us only what is best for us. We have the greatest friend in the world let us not forget to ask for her help.  

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