From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
September 8th - The Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today we celebrate the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of
God. This feast dates back at least to the 6th century or before. It
was celebrated in the Oriental Church and is written about by Romanos
Melodos about the year 550.
The popularity of this feast developed slowly in the West. How the
date of September 8th was chosen is uncertain, but we do know that it
was the date of the dedication of a Church in Mary's honor, in
Jerusalem. The feast itself does not celebrate the actual birth of
Mary per se, but rather, her role in salvation history. From the
Gospel of Luke 1:26-38, we read:
"In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in
Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the House of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. He went in a=
nd
said to her, 'Rejoice, so highly favored! The Lord is with you.' She
was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this
greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, 'Mary, do not be
afraid; you have won God's favor. Listen! You are to conceive and bear
a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be
called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of
his ancestor David; he will rule over the house of David forever and
his reign will have no end.' Mary said to the angel, 'But how can this
come about since I am a virgin?' 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you'
the angel answered' and the power of the Most High will cover you with
it's shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of
God. Know this too: your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age,
herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in
her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.' 'I am the handmaid
of the Lord,' said Mary 'let what you have said be done to me.' And
the angel left her." (Jerusalem Bible) Mary was destined to be the
Mother of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Today our celebration
focuses on the great blessings God bestowed upon her and the
never-ending FIAT... YES... that she said to Him. May the example of
her life encourage us to say yes to God in all aspects of our life.
Saint Quote:
In the spiritual life he who does not advance goes backward. It
happens as with a boat which always must go ahead. If it stands still
the wind blows it back. Fix the time, the length of your meditation,
and do not rise from your place until you have finished even at the
cost of being crucified.
--Padre Pio
Bible Quote:
Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not
perversely, is not puffed up, Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own,
is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil: Rejoiceth not in iniquity,
but rejoiceth with the truth: Beareth all things, believeth all
things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
DRB
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Invocation of Mary in time of Temptations
Haste, my Mother, run to help me;
Mother, haste, do not delay;
See from hell the envious serpent
Comes my trembling soul to slay.
Ah! his very look affrights me,
And his cruel rage I fear;
Whither fly, if he attacks me?
See him, see him coming near!
Lo! I faint away with terror,
For if yet thou dost delay.
He will dart at me his venom;
Then, alas! I am his prey.
Cries and tears have nought availed me,
Spite of all I see him there;
Saints I call till I am weary,
Still he stands with threatening air.
Now his mighty jaws are open,
And his forked tongue I see;
Ah! he coils to spring upon me--
Mother I hasten, make him flee.
Mary! yes, the name of Mary
Strikes with dread my cruel foe;
Straight he flees as from the sunbeam
Swiftly melts the winter's snow.
Now he's gone; but do thou ever
Stay beside me, Mother dear;
Then the hellish fiend to tempt me
Never more will venture near.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)