Saints + Scripture: Feast of the Nativity of Mary

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Saturday, 8 September was the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Madonna-link ūna, Madonna-link duæ, Wikipedia-link Nativity, & Wikipedia-link Feast.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

There are only three people whose birthdays have traditionally been celebrated by Christians. Jesus Christ, at Christmas [25 December]; Saint John the Baptist [24 June]; & the Blessed Virgin Mary. And we celebrate all three birthdays for the same reason: all three were born without Original Sin. Christ, because He was conceived by the Holy Spirit; Mary, because she was kept free from the stain of Original Sin by the action of God in His foreknowledge that she would agree to be the mother of Christ; & Saint John, because he was blessed in the womb by the presence of his Savior when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, came to aid her cousin [St.] Elizabeth [5 November] in the final months of Elizabeth's pregnancy (an event we celebrate in the Feast of the Visistation [31 May]).

Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Book of Micah, chapter five, verses one thru four(a);
or, the Letter to the Romans, chapter eight, verses twenty-eight, twenty-nine, & thirty;
Psalm Thirteen, verses six(a/b) & six(c);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter one, verses one thru sixteen & eighteen thru twenty-three
(or, the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter one, verses eighteen thru twenty-three).

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today as we celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary the Church gives us the very beginning of St. Matthew’s Gospel. It is desperately important for Matthew to show that Jesus doesn’t just appear out of the blue. Rather, he comes out of a rich, densely textured history. St. Irenaeus tells us that the Incarnation had been taking place over a long period of time, God gradually accustoming himself to the human race.

Look at this long line of characters: saints, sinners, cheats, murderers, poets, kings, insiders, and outsiders—all leading to the Christ. Of course King David is mentioned. He is, without doubt, a great figure, the king who unites the nation, defeats its enemies, and establishes the first Israelite empire. But he is also, we know, an adulterer and a murderer, the one who abuses his power in order to eliminate Uriah the Hittite.

And finally the climactic entry that notes the virgin whose birthday we celebrate today: "Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah."

Video reflection by Harry Dudley, D.Min.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Sergius I, Pope (circa 650-701), eighty-fourth (LXXXIV) Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Corbinian, Bishop (circa 670-730): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Blessed Adam Bargielski, Priest & Martyr (1903-1942), martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, one of the One Hundred Eight Blessed Polish Martyrs: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link CVIII & Wikipedia-link CVIII.

Papal Quote o' That Day

"Mary, accepting the will of the Father, opens the path of salvation & makes it possible—through the presence of the Kingdom of God—for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Mary, proclaiming the faithfulness of God for all generations, assures the victory of the poor & the lowly."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' That Day

"We must abandon the future into the hands of God."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' That Day

"Trust in Divine Providence is the firm, lively faith that God can & will help us. It is obvious that He can help us, since He is all-powerful. It is certain that He will help us, because He promised it in many passages of Sacred Scripture & keeps all His promises faithfully."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa, 1910-1997; feast day: 5 September)