Today, September 8th , the Church marks the feast of the nativity of the blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus. This feast day was introduced in Rome from the Eastern Church in the seventh century. Only a few people enjoy the privilege of a birthday celebration in the Church’s liturgical calendar — the Birthday of Jesus (December 25), the Birthday of John the Baptist (June 24) and the Birthday of Mary (today). Among these people whose birth relate to the divine plans of salvation, Mary is unique because she nurtured the saviour of humankind, Jesus Christ our Lord. Pope Paul VI describes the uniqueness of Mary’s birth as the dawn of humankind’s salvation, Marialis Cultus, 1974. How does Mary’s role as the dawn of salvation concern us, the members of Christ? I invite you to reflect with me according to Paul VI’s Apostolic Exhortation, Marialis Cultus (MC). I equally encourage those who can find time to read this great Church document (it is available on the internet).
The Dawn of Salvation and the Joy of Humankind
The primary theme portrayed in the liturgical celebration of this feast day is that Mary’s holy birth preannounces the arrival of Christ, the Light of the World. Apart from the dawn of the saviour in the immaculate Virgin Mary, Mary’s role in the order of salvation is significant in her own life. In the words of Paul VI, Mary can be considered, by virtue of her life as “a mirror of the expectations of the men and women of our time.” MC,37. Precisely, how can the feast of Mary’s birth speak to the people of our times.
The Pope tells us that as the dawn of light of salvation by her dialogue with the Angel at the annunciation, “the modern woman, anxious to participate with decision-making power in the affairs of the community, will contemplate with intimate joy Mary who, taken into dialogue with God, gives her active and responsible consent, to that “‘event of world importance,’” the Incarnation, MC,37. Hence, Paul VI’s view highlights the model of active engagement with God in the work of liberation. According to the Pope, “the modern woman [and man] will note with pleasant surprise that Mary of Nazareth, while completely devoted to the will of God, was far from being a timidly submissive woman or one whose piety was repellent to others; on the contrary, she was a woman who did not hesitate to proclaim that God vindicates the humble and the oppressed, and removes the powerful people of this world from their privileged positions (cf Lk. 1:51-53).”MC,37.
Furthermore, the Pope in this important document points out that “the modern woman [and man] will recognize in Mary, who ‘stands out among the poor and humble of the Lord,’ a woman of strength, who experienced poverty and suffering, flight and exile (cf. Mt. 2:13-23).” Ibid., 37. These are situations that cannot escape the attention of those who wish to support, with the Gospel spirit, the call to liberation of humankind.
Mary, Mother of all who believe in Christ
As Pope Paul VI notes, “Mary will appear not as a Mother exclusively concerned with her own divine Son, but rather as a woman whose action helped to strengthen the apostolic community’s faith in Christ (cf. Jn. 2:1-12), and whose maternal role was extended and became universal on Calvary”MC,39. But most importantly, the scriptural attestation to Mary’s motherhood invites us to do the will of God. According to Paul VI, “the ultimate purpose of devotion to the Blessed Virgin is to glorify God and to lead Christians to commit themselves to a life which is in absolute conformity with His will” MC,39. The episode in the Gospel of the woman who glorified Mary by saying to Jesus “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that you sucked” (Lk. 11:27), testifies to the call to glorification of God in and through Mary. To the woman Jesus replied: “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Lk. 11:28).
How do I conduct my devotion and relation to and with Mary?
Every devotee of Mary has a particular way of communion with her. For me, the devotion to Mary makes a lot of sense when I take her as I would a mother. It not only speaks to the major reality of Mary of Nazareth, but also a very practical way of appreciating her Motherhood of all. I relate with Mary as a real mother! This means, I approach her as a daughter approaches her mother in real life. I commune with her when I need a mother’s advice, solace, succour, and encouragement. I tell her my deepest needs and worries. And, I visit a Marian shrine or Marian Grotto. Mary’s motherly support is for me, unparalleled!
