Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary



'The Birth of the Virgin', fresco by Juan de Borgoña, Cathedral of Toledo, c. 1495


When the time had come for human nature to encounter the divine and to be so intimately united to it that the two would make but one person, it was necessary that each should already be manifested in its integrity. God, on his part, revealed himself in a manner befitting God, but it was the Virgin alone who threw light on human nature... For it truly seems that if God assumed human nature, not at its origin but in the fullness of time (Gal 4,4), this was because before that time this nature had not yet been fully brought to birth, whereas now, in Mary, it appeared in its integrity for the first time...

All this is what we have come to celebrate so festively today. The Virgin's birthday is likewise that of the whole world since this day saw the birth of the first fully human being. Now «the earth» has truly «yielded its fruit» (Ps 67[66],7), the earth that, with its thorns and thistles, always yielded before the corruption of sin (Gn 3,18). Now heaven knows that it was not set up in vain since humanity, for whom it was created, sees the light of day...

Hence the whole creation raises an endless song of praise to the Virgin; every tongue sings her glory with one voice; men and all the choirs of angels never cease to compose hymns to the mother of God. And we, too, sing her and offer her our praises together... To you alone, O Virgin worthy of all praise, as to your love for humankind, does it belong to value the blessing of the graces gained, not through us but through your generosity. Chosen from our race as a gift to God, you adorned with beauty the rest of humanity. Sanctify the hearts that have conceived the words we speak to you and prevent the earth of our souls from bringing forth the least evil, through the grace and goodness of your only Son, our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

~ Saint Nicholas Cabasilas (c.1320-1363), Greek lay theologian Homily for the Nativity of the Mother of God, 16,18; Patrologia orientalis, vol.19 via The Daily Gospel.

Related Posts:

Reflection on the Birth of Mary

Happy Birthday, Mother Mary!


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