This Sunday the 8th of September marks the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast day commemorates the birth day of Mary. There are only three birthdays on the liturgical calendar: Mary, Jesus, and John the Baptist. Usually, it is the custom to celebrate the feast day of a saint on the date of their death as that marks their “birth” into everlasting life. Mary, however, entered the world sinless (known as the “Immaculate Conception”). She was born to be the mother of the Savior of the world, the spiritual mother of all men, and the holiest of God’s creatures. Mary is called the firstborn of the redeemed and her nativity is “the hope of the entire world and the dawn of salvation” (Pope Paul VI, Marialis Cultus). Mary’s birth is not recorded in scripture but is found in the Protevangelium of James, an apocryphal writing from the 2nd century. The liturgical celebration of this feast has a joyous theme of light: the world that had been shadowed in the darkness of sin sees a glimmer of light with the arrival of Mary. Through Mary comes Christ, the Light of the World. 

We will celebrate as a school on Monday with a Liturgy and cake for Mary our patron saint and Mother.

On this special day, we make a prayer to St Mary:

Hail Mary Hail Mary,  Full of Grace,  The Lord is with thee.  Blessed art thou among women,  and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.  Holy Mary,  Mother of God,  pray for us sinners now,  and at the hour of our death. Amen. 

Jeanette Dumbrell