Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Intention: For God’s strength and protection to all who care for the world’s persecuted and dispossessed people, that their work may bear the fruits of comfort, peace, and justice.
Today’s Gospel | Matthew 1:18-23
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”
From the Meditation on the Nativity of the Most Blessed Virgin | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
It is impossible for us to believe how great was the cooperation of the Most Blessed Virgin with all the graces she received from God at the moment of her birth. By a special privilege, she already enjoyed the use of reason and made use of it to adore God and to thank him for all his goodness. From that time on, she consecrated herself entirely to God to live and to act only for him during the rest of her life.
She professed her nothingness profoundly in the depths of her soul, acknowledging that she owed everything to God. She admired interiorly what God had done in her, saying to herself what she later declared in her Canticle, God has done great things in me. As she looked at herself and contemplated God in herself, she was altogether amazed to see the generosity of God in his creature. She was convinced and thoroughly aware that everything in her must pay honor to God. With David she continually said that her very bones were so indebted to God that they could not refrain from crying out, Who is like unto God?
If Mary received an abundance of grace, it was to share it with all those who have recourse to her. By your care for her and your recourse to her, gain the help you can receive from her.
Prayer
Eternal Father, the Blessed Mother of our Lord was the first to receive and believe the good news. In her, you graced us with an everlasting model of faith, always our inspiration and our help. Through Mary’s example, teach us to be carriers of your word, so that it might give light and strength to all of us as we journey from day to day, seeking to follow your voice and do your will. Just as you touched Mary’s heart, may we touch the hearts of those we serve and, like Mary, witness to your saving presence. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.