The Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary
First reading Micah 5:1-4
The prophet Micah speaks of the woman who is to give birth, and the Church, guided by Tradition, has always recognized in these words the mystery of Mary. Her nativity is not simply the birth of a child—it is the dawn of salvation, the opening of history to the Incarnation. The birth of Mary is the birth of hope for humanity, because in her, God prepared the pure vessel through whom the Word would take flesh. She is the beginning of peace, for from her comes the Shepherd who will feed His flock with the majesty of the Lord’s name. In her very existence, Mary embodies the Church’s destiny: chosen, preserved, and made fruitful for the sake of the world. To celebrate her birth is to rejoice that God’s plan is faithful and that He has already provided the Mother for His Son and for His people. In Mary’s nativity we see the radical generosity of God, who gives us not only a Savior but also a Mother whose very life is peace and whose presence is hope. Let’s reflect: Do I recognize in Mary’s birth the dawn of hope and peace for humanity, and do I entrust myself to her maternal care so that Christ, born of her, may be more fully alive in me?
Don Giorgio