The Feast of the Nativity of Mary
Everyone knows about Christmas. But do you know what Marymas is?
One of the most sacred days in the Church calendar, the Feast of the Nativity of Mary celebrates the birth of Jesus’ mother.
In today’s article, we give you an overview of Mary’s birthday and how Christians celebrate it.
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Everyone knows about Christmas. But do you know what Marymas is?
One of the most sacred days in the Church calendar, the Feast of the Nativity of Mary celebrates the birth of Jesus’ mother.
In today’s article, we give you an overview of Mary’s birthday and how Christians celebrate it.
What does the Bible say about the Birth of Mary?
The Bible doesn’t talk about the birth of Mary. Scholars believe that the genealogy of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Luke (3:23-38) is traced from Mary, which makes her a descendant of King David.
However, the same Gospel also describes her as a relative of Elizabeth, who is a Levite, a descendant of Aaron (Luke 1:5).
Most of what we learn about the birth of Mary comes from non-canonical gospels, especially The Protoevangelium of James, this document probably dates from the second century and bears the name of James, the ‘brother’ of Jesus (Matthew 13:55).
According to the Gospel of James, Mary is the daughter of St.Anne and St.Joachim (5:2).
The story of Mary’s conception follows a common theme in the Judeo-Christian tradition: a couple is infertile and prays for a child. God promises them a child, who plays a key role in the salvation of the world.
Usually, this child of promise is a son, but in this case, it is a daughter.
What is the difference between the Nativity of Mary and Immaculate Conception?
“She is the flower of the field from whom bloomed the precious lily of the valley. Through her birth the nature inherited from our first parents is changed.” St Augustine.
The Nativity of Mary is a celebration of Mary’s birth, ‘nativity’ being a shorthand for ‘birthday’ in Christianity.
The Immaculate Conception also has to do with the birth of Mary. It refers to a doctrine of the Catholic Church stressing the purity of the Virgin at her birth.
The Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception has roots in the Western Church, in the theologies of Ambrose (c. 340-397), and most popularly in Augustine (c. 354-430). Since then, the Latin Church has emphasized that Mary was free from Original Sin, and in 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed it as a doctrine of the church.
What is the difference between the Nativity of Mary and the Assumption of Mary?
The assumption of holy personalities is also a recurrent theme in Judeo-Christian literature, It is the belief that a pious individual didn’t die, but was directly taken into God’s presence.
The assumption has always been associated with Mary. Why would her body experience physical corruption, considering that she carried the Son of God inside her?
Thus, the Doctrine of the Assumption of the Virgin teaches that Mary’s body was received miraculously into heaven in her sleep (Dormition).
Nativity of Mary in History
The church has celebrated Mary’s birthday at least since the sixth century. The traditional date is the 8th of September because the Eastern Church begins its calendar year on September 8.
Consequently, the date of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception is the 8th of December (9 months from September).
some scholars say that the feast of the Nativity of Mary has origins in Syria or Palestine. The dedication of the Church of St. Anne in Jerusalem is perhaps the first liturgical commemoration of Marymas.
The Church of St. Anne was a Marian basilica built at the site traditionally believed to be the home of Mary’s parents.
Since the 7th century, the feast has been celebrated in both Western and Eastern churches. Churches that follow the old Julian Calendar celebrate this feast on September 21, while the Coptic Orthodox and Ethiopian Orthodox churches celebrate it on May 9.
How to Celebrate the Nativity of Mary
Here are some of the ways to celebrate the birthday of Jesus’ mother:
Go to the Nativity Mass
When we read the Gospels, we see Mary giving glory to her Son. Since she wants Christians to know her Son, participating in the Mass is one of the best ways to celebrate this day.
Pray to Mary & Read about Mary in the Scriptures
The Bible doesn’t say much about Mary, but we can learn a lot from her life.
A simple Jewish girl from Galilee, Mary was known for piety during her youth, which is the same time when a messenger from God visited her.
You can also say a prayer to Mary, like the Hail Mary or Memorare.
Pray | The Memorare
Bishop Reed is praying the Memorare in this video from Catholic TV Network
Bake a Mary Birthday Cake
Even if you’re not religious, you can celebrate this feast day by baking a birthday cake for Mary.
One idea is to ice your cake in white (to symbolize purity) and blue (Mary’s traditional color).
You can also consider making a cupcake rosary, iced white or blue. You can use a real crucifix for the cake bottom.
Why God Chose Mary?
Mary was chosen to give birth to a son at a young age, even before she was married! And the child to be born was to become the Savior of the world.
Hesitant at first, Mary obeyed these commands, putting her life and honor at risk. For this obedience and devotion to the will of God, she was to be blessed by all generations.
Her relationship with Jesus was also unique, for although she gave birth to him, He was, in fact, the savior of the world. She cared for Jesus as His mother, and then gradually recognized His true calling. After Jesus started His ministry, Mary became devoted to the cause as well.
The last reference we find of Mary in the Bible tells us that she was living with disciples, and committed to the cause of Christ (Acts 1:14).
Thus in Mary, we find the example of the ideal woman and the ideal mother who accepted her child as a blessing from God and raised him to be perfect in the eyes of God. Jesus loved Mary to the end (John 13:1).
What does the Nativity of Mary mean today?
Every birth is a sign of hope for the world and God’s creative work. And every child is born with the potential to be a vehicle of God’s love and peace.
And this is especially true for Mary, who foreshadowed the perfect revelation of God’s love in Jesus Christ. And she dawned on the fullness of salvation that Jesus had brought into this world.
Since it is a birthday celebration, the Nativity of Mary is also about family and community, of people coming together in the fold of God through the Theotokos.
Depiction of Mary Womb at the Church of Annunciation
Today, Christian pilgrims come to visit the Church of Annunciation at Nazareth. The church interior symbolizes the womb of Mary, and when pilgrims visit inside the church, they symbolically enter the womb of Mary and are reborn as children of Mary, the mother of humanity.
On the other hand, the churchyard has mosaics and works of art from all over the world depicting Mary in the traditional attire and appearance of each country, implying that she is the mother of mankind.
Where was Mary Born: Jerusalem (St. Anna) or Sepphoris at Galilee?
The traditional site of Mary’s birth is Jerusalem At St. Anna Church (built on top of the Pool of Bethesda). That said, another oral tradition has it that Anne and Joachim, parents of Mary, lived in Sepphoris at Galilee.
The place is located almost 6 miles from Nazareth. Herod the Great fortified the city and made it a temporary capital. It has been destroyed and rebuilt several times, ultimately giving way to an earthquake in the 4th century.
There is a three-aisled church built during the Crusades over the site of Anne’s alleged birthplace, which lends credence to the tradition that Mary was born in Sepphoris.
Sepphoris is also near the village of Cana (Khirbet Qana), the location of the Wedding at Cana mentioned in John’s Gospel where Jesus turned water into wine.
Marian Sites in the Holy Land
Marymas also draws attention to Marian sites in the Holy Land:
The Tomb of the Virgin Mary
The site of the Dormition is located in the Kidron valley, near the foot of the Mt. of Olives in Jerusalem.
The Abbey of the Dormition
Located just outside the walls of old Jerusalem, in Mount Zion, the Dormition Abbey is said to have been built under the patronage of John the Second, Bishop of Jerusalem in the early 5the century CE.
Also located in Jerusalem, the Abbey of the Dormition in Mount Zion probably dates from the 5th century AD, built by John the Second, the Bishop of Jerusalem.
According to local tradition, it was here that the Blessed Virgin Mary slept, near the Cenacle (Upper Room – the site of the Last Supper Room).
The Church of the Annunciation
Located in Nazareth, the Church of the Annunciation marks the site where the angel Gabriel announced the conception and birth of Jesus Christ to Mary. It is one of the marvels of Byzantine architecture.
Mary’s Well (The Spring of the Virgin Mary)
Located near the Church of the Annunciation, Mary’s Well is located where the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, the mother of Jesus.
The Church of St. Anne
This church is built at the site believed to be the home of Mary’s parents, and possibly the birthplace of Mary.
It was built by the Crusaders, and it is still an amazing site with trees, shrubs, and flowers. lace of the Virgin Mary.
The Orthodox Shrine of the Nativity of Mary
One of the most peaceful prayer locations in Jerusalem, this shrine is held by the Orthodox Church to be the place where Mary was born. It contains a Byzantine-era mosaic floor and is located in the Old City Jerusalem, just next to St. Anne Church.
Ein Kerem - The Church of Visitation
Finally, we have the tranquil village of Ein Kerem, located west of Jerusalem.
Ein Kerem is believed to be the birthplace of John the Baptist.
According to the Gospel of Luke, Mary visited Elizabeth (John’s mother) while he was still in the womb, and he leaped with joy (Luke 1:44).
Holy Land Gifts for the Nativity of Mary
The Feast of the Nativity of Mary is also a time for gift-giving, one of the best gifts from the Holy Land is the Holy Rosary.
It is a string of beads or knots attached to a crucifix, used to say prayers like Our Father or Hail Mary.
According to the Catholic faith, the rosary was instituted by the Blessed Virgin Mary herself.
As in the story of the Nativity where Mary gave the Lord Jesus to the world, she also gave the Rosary as a gift to help believers connect to God.
Explore more Holy Land gifts on our website.
