"Who is she that comes forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in battle array?" - Song of Songs 6:10
Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means "God is with us." (Matthew 1:23)
The Catholic Church celebrates today the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Traditionally, the Church set aside September 8, nine months after the December 8 celebration of her Immaculate Conception as the child of Saints Joachim and Anne, to honor Her role in God’s overall plan of salvation. What do you usually do on your birthday? Hopefully, you would do two things, thanking God for giving you life and your parents for being a “co-creators with and of God’s love.” (Pope Francis) By faith, each of us has two mother, biological mother and spiritual mother. We owe our very existence to our biological mother. She nurtured us within her body, protected us for nine months and brought us to birth. We might credit our mother for some aspects of our physical appearance or personality. You carry her DNA. Therefore, it is appropriate for us to turn to Mary’s power of intercession because She is not only the mother of the person of Christ, but also of the faithful. She who is recognized as mother of salvation, life and grace, mother of the saved and mother of the living. She is rightly proclaimed by the Church as Mother of the Church. As our spiritual Mother, she will continue to nourish, protect, comfort, and teach us as we grow. “In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps. With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal. (Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Father and Doctor of the Church)