The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
September 8
“We know that all things work for the good for those who love God,
who are called according to His purpose.” –Romans 8:28
Today, we celebrate the birth of a child, who, nine months ago (December 8), was immaculately conceived in the womb of her mother, St. Anne, by her father, St. Joachim.
When this child was born, her parents probably did not know the great miracles that their little girl was destined for. All they saw was the miracle of life before them. And like all loving parents, they must have struggled to give this child a good home and tried their very best to form her to become a good person and to live a life of faith, without knowing the kind of future that awaits her. They simply trusted that God has a good plan for their child.
For who would have known the wonders that awaited this child?
A child, who from the very beginning, was chosen by God to be “full of grace”, whose enmity toward Satan was spoken of as far back as Genesis, and described in a vision of a woman crowned with stars with the moon under her feet in the Book of Revelation. A child, who would eventually be known as “blessed among all women”, the one whom God has chosen to bear His only Son, to bring life to the world.
This child is, of course, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is her nativity that we are honoring today.
As the mother of our Lord, Mary has always been greatly revered and given a special place in the life of the Church. In fact, the feast of her birth has been celebrated in the Church since the 7th or 8th century. And this feast is one among the only three birthdays honored in the Liturgical Year, the other two being Christ’s Himself (December 25) and his precursor, John the Baptist’s (June 24).
However, as always, this feast is not an end in itself, but rather, points to and anticipates the coming of our true end and destiny, in Mary’s Divine son, Jesus Christ. As the song goes, “Mariang Ina ko…kay Kristong kuya ko, akayin mo ako”.
As we celebrate the feast of the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we also celebrate important events in our school: the installation of our Women Eucharistic ministers, the launch of the Katipunan Fund Drive (KFD) and the 35th year anniversary of the Tulong Dunong (TD) Program (1975-2010).
Who would have known the important roles that women would play in the life of the Church? Or how far the simple acts and generosity of our students would reach? Or how a scholarship program, which began 35 years ago through the efforts of the late Fr. James O’ Brien, SJ, would continue to flourish and bear much fruit even after so many years?
In the end, only God does—He who has called us His children, who has written our names in the palm of His hand. As cliché as it sounds, God knows what is truly best for us. The real challenge then is for us to have faith in God’s plan, that just like the life of Mary, “all things [do] work for the good for those who love God, and who are called for His purpose.”
Let us pray: God, Our Father, we ask for the grace of faithfulness, that we may truly fulfill Your plans for us and accomplish the purpose for which You have made us. We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Mary, Our Mother, Pray for us.
Sources:
“Doing Our Best Each Day” in Inviting God In by Joyce Rupp,
http://www.wf-f.org/BirthofMary.html, http://www.fisheaters.com
Within the Mass, the following female faculty, professionals and staff will be commissioned as Special Ministers of Holy Communion.
1. Ms. Ester M. Abito (Science)
2. Ms. Eloisa B. Albert (Science)
3. Ms. Suzanne Darlene U. Alvarez (Campus Ministry)
4. Ms. Zenaida V. Badillo (School Nurse)
5. Ms. Estela E. Banasihan (Aralin Panlipunan)
6. Ms. Mercy N. de Guia (Head Moderator)
7. Ms. Dolly G. Ducepec (CLE Subject Area)
8. Ms. Marilyn M. Lee (Office of the SAC)
9. Ms. Josie A. Loveranes (Testing and Research Office)
10. Ms. Karen Patricia N. Ong (English)
11. Ms. Ma. Margarita M. Pavia (Math)
12. Ms. Genalyn S. Sanvictores (CLE)
13. Ms. Amelia C. Solmerin (CLE)
