Today is a wonderful feast day in the Church ~ the day we celebrate the day our Blessed Mother was born to Sts. Joachim and Ann. Do we know the real date of her birth? No, but Heaven knows and welcomes our rejoicing! The date is nine months after December 8, the solemnity of Mary's Immaculate Conception in the womb of her mother. She was conceived without the stain of Original Sin so that she would be a pure and untarnished vessel for the Incarnate Lord.

In the Office of Readings today from the Liturgy of the Hours St. Andrew of Crete reflects on this mystery and his writing ends with this paragraph:

"Justly, then, do we celebrate this mystery since it signifies for us a double grace. We are led toward the truth, and we are led away from our condition of slavery to the letter of the law. How can this be? Darkness yields before the coming of the light, and grace exchanges legalism for freedom. But midway between the two stands today’s mystery, at the frontier where types and symbols give way to reality, and the old is replaced by the new. Therefore, let all creation sing and dance and unite to make worthy contribution to the celebration of this day. Let there be one common festival for saints in heaven and men on earth. Let everything, mundane things and those above, join in festive celebration. Today this created world is raised to the dignity of a holy place for him who made all things. The creature is newly prepared to be a divine dwelling place for the Creator."

We wish you a very happy birthday, dear Mother of God!

From the Office or Readings: Let us celebrate today, with great devotion, the birth of Mary, the ever-virgin Mother of God, whose virtues shed light upon the Church throughout the world. Let us glorify Christ with heart and soul on this feast of Mary, the noble Mother of God...

http://www.universalis.com/readings.htm