Word to the Wise
Friday, September 8, 2017 - Sept. 8 - The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
[Micah 5:1-4a or Rom 8:28-30 and Matt 1:1-16, 18-23 or 1:18-23,1259]We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. [Romans]
There is no birth certificate or baptismal certificate to testify to the September 8th date for celebrating the birthday of Mary, but, being human, she had to have been born in time on some date somewhere. Evidence for this celebration goes back to the 5th century, but we have no idea why September 8th was chosen. And it really doesn't matter. What DOES matter is that in celebrating the birthday of Mary, we celebrate her humanity, which sometimes gets lost in all the pomp and circumstance and apparitions with which Catholic devotion has surrounded her. When I was pastor of St. Ann Parish in San Antonio, in the front yard of the parish office/rectory there was a statue of St. Ann with Mary as a little girl standing beside her. The stained glass windows in the church celebrated incidents in the life of St. Ann, but included events she shared with Mary. These come from a non-canonical gospel called the Protoevangelium of Sts. Joachim and Ann, but they, too, point us in the direction of Mary as person.
Most depictions of Mary tend to show her as someone in middle age. At the time of Jesus' death, she would have been in her late forties or older, which, given the average lifespan of women in her time would have made her elderly! In celebrating her birthday, i think we can indulge our imaginations a bit and consider her as child, teen, mom, sister, aunt, favorite teacher, colleague - the possibilities are numerous. These do not lower her in status, but make her more accessible. The quote from the optional first scripture from Romans is a good summary and the Magnificat says it well, "The Almighty has done great things for me." AMEN
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