Happy Birthday Mother Mary!

Thy birth, O Virgin Mother of God,

heralded joy to all the world.

For from thou hast risen the Sun of justice,

Christ our God.
Destroying the curse, He gave blessing;

and damning death,

He bestowed on us life everlasting.
Blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

For from thou hast risen of Sun of justice,

Christ our God. Amen.

Did you know that the Church's calendar only celebrates three birthdays?

Saint John the Baptist, Mary the Mother of God, and Jesus our Savior.

Today we celebrate Mary's birth. We believe that Mary was conceived without original sin. This was a special grace given to Mary by God because she was to be the Mother of the Messiah. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, to become the mother of the Savior, Mary "was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role". The angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation salutes her as "full of grace" In fact, in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne by God's grace. Let us take some time today to honor Our Lady and to thank her for her "yes" to the will of God in her life.