Thy Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, was the herald of joy to the whole world; since from thee arose the Sun of Justice, Christ our God, who, destroying the curse, bestowed the blessing, and confounding death, rewarded us with life everlasting. (Antiphon at the Magnificat).
Birth of the Virgin Mary by Doxaras
Today, angels bow down, Heavenly Hosts sing, Saints give praise and glory to God and our hearts are filled with joy. For today is the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Today, a beautiful light has shone into the darkness of our fallen existence, God the Father has given human life to our greatest joy.
The most perfect creature is born into the world. The most perfect woman, Who radiates perfection of femininity, in body, mind and soul.
She is our example; She is our guide and She will become not only the Mother of God – but our Mother.
Chosen from eternity, She is God’s greatest act of creation, for, preserved from Original Sin, She is the only creature who walks this sorry world in the unfallen state. She is paradise on earth.
Each and every footstep She makes will drive into submission the serpent, agent of our distress.
The serpent – there is a sinister image of this despicable creature that sends shivers down my spine. It is an image of the serpent with its tail in its mouth, creating a full circle. The image implies a world entrapped within the closed circle – a world lost to the power of darkness, where humanity is trapped within the serpent’s lair. For within its circle, we are cut off from God.
When this evil creature tricked our first mother, Eve, into following its law, it is easy to imagine its satisfaction, as it places its tail in its mouth, encircling the world.
‘It is mine’, says the ugly beast.
What horrors we have endured – exiled into darkness, into the world of the serpent, the world of sin. But all is not lost. Natura vulnerata non deleta – Nature is wounded but not destroyed.
There is a way out of this beastly circle.
For, in His mercy, Almighty God, hearing our cries from the darkened wilderness, sends us a very different creature. He sends us a perfect Queen, above all angels, Who will bear the Fruit of Redemption.
Immaculate She is made – for to bear this Fruit, the Son of God, She must be of perfect flesh.
This is the cause of our joy, Her birth into the world. She is the one, Who will crush the head of the serpent. She is the one, Who will fashion the New Adam, Our Lord Jesus Christ, with Her Immaculate flesh.
As Her Blessed figure walks this earth, rose petals are left in Her footsteps and the cunning creature retreats.
For, She is everything unbearable to him: humanly perfect, sinless, wholly one with God.
Her very sight causes him to shrink from her presence.
So into this darkened world She comes, a shining light from Heaven. Basking in Her light, we may follow Her example and also drive the serpent into retreat.
Yet, to follow Her is no easy task.
She is perfection itself and we are not. For, whilst She is perfect in every way – in femininity, as daughter, as spouse, in motherhood – we are darkened in our hearts, in our souls and we struggle to follow Her example.
In perfect humbleness, She said ‘Yes’ to God, with Her whole being.
As we struggle and strive to follow Her perfect example, we repeatedly falter in our weakness.
We must therefore call upon the fruits of Holy Mother the Church, the Holy Sacraments, without the grace of which, we would fail miserably, against the cunning of the serpent.
And we must never forget this perfect creature Who, at the foot of the cross said ‘Yes’ to being our Mother. Her tender love is always available to us, if only we would ask.
Cause of our joy, She will be crowned Queen of Heaven, by the Most Holy Trinity. No greater privilege has been or will be bestowed on a mere creature.
Happy Birthday dear Mother.
Blessed Virgin Mary, on this Feast of your Nativity,
Pray for us.
