September 8th is when the Church celebrates the feast of the nativity of the Virgin Mary. Why not tap into this as a great reason to have a party with your family, too?
Celebrate Mary’s birthday
The Annunciation of the Lord: A short reflection
Every year on March 25, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation. Our greatest saint, Mary did one simple thing. She listened to God’s will—that she was to be the mother of Jesus—and she accepted God’s will. Mary did not immediately think of herself, but set out to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, to be with her at the birth of John the Baptist. We will celebrate this unselfish act on May 31, the Visitation. Read the complete reflection online.
Our Lady of Guadalupe: Truly heaven-sent
Veneration of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose feast day is December 12, is not limited to Catholics of Hispanic heritage. Indeed, she is the patroness of all America: North, Central and South, as Pope Pius XII designated in 1945. How did this come about? Find out online.
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
On November 21, we celebrated the memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, observed by the universal Church since the sixteenth century. This day celebrates a moment, like her birth, we don’t know much about historically. The important thing to remember about this feast is the theme that Mary is the new Temple, in whom God has come to dwell in the person of Jesus Christ. Find a prayer and short video online.
The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: The Magnificat
We pray it as part of the Liturgy of Hours, and we hear it proclaimed in the Gospel reading on the feast of the Visitation — May 31 — but I’m not sure most Catholics stop often enough to think about what a beautiful gift we have in Mary’s Magnificat. This post by Our Sunday Visitor editorial director for periodicals Gretchen Crowe reminds us of its importance.
