Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary (Sept 8)
by the Revd Dr Robert Wilson PhD (Cantab), Old Roman Apostolate UK
Today we celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since the Incarnation is the distinctively Christian dogma that marks it out from other religions, the Church rightly gives especial veneration to the mother of God Incarnate, who was chosen to be the mother of the Word made flesh. The Council of Ephesus in 431 affirmed her to be the theotokos, the God bearer, for she conceived in her womb the Word made flesh. As the hymn has it,
How blest that Mother in whose shrine
The great artificer divine
Whose hand contains the earth and sky
Ordained as in his Ark to lie.
The Church honours Mary as pre-eminent among the saints, not as a figure of independent greatness in her own right, but rather in relation to the child whom she bore, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those under the law, that they might obtain the adoption of sons.
Blessed were the chosen people,
Out of whom her Lord did come
Blessed was the land of promise,
Fashioned for his earthly home
But more blessed was the mother,
She who bare him in her womb.
God in Christ has entered the world to redeem us from the curse that fell upon our race as a consequence of the fall of man. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. The Church Fathers develop this point further by saying that Mary’s positive response to the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation, Be it unto me according to thy word, reverses Eve’s disobedience. Our vocation as Christians is to become by grace what he is by nature, who humbled himself to share our humanity that we might share his divinity. Mary is the supreme example of one who became by grace what he is by nature. It is therefore right that we celebrate her Conception, her Nativity, her Purification in the Temple, and her Dormition or Assumption.
A sermon which we read in the Breviary for today attributed to St. Augustine states: “She is the flower of the fields on which the priceless lily of the valleys has blossomed… At her that dolorous sentence that was pronounced over Eve ended its course; to her it was never said: “In sorrow thou shalt bring forth children.” She brought forth a child, even the Lord, but she brought him forth, not in sorrow, but in joy. Eve wept, but Mary laughed. Eve’s womb was big with tears, but Mary’s womb was big with gladness. Eve gave birth to a sinner, but Mary gave birth to the sinless one. The mother of our race brought punishment into the world, but the mother of our Lord brought salvation into the world. Eve was the foundress of sin, but Mary was the foundress of righteousness. Eve welcomed death, but Mary helped in life. Eve smote, but Mary healed. For Eve’s disobedience, Mary offered obedience; and for Eve’s unbelief, Mary offered faith.”
For many Christians since the time of the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, an emphasis on the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary detracts from the worship of Christ as the Word made flesh. However, it is important to emphasise that we honour Mary not as a figure of independent greatness in her own right, but precisely because of her unique relation to Christ, as the mother of the Word made flesh. In the nineteenth century John Henry Newman noted that “if we take a survey at least of Europe, we shall find that it is not those religious communities which are characterised by devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary which have ceased to adore her Eternal Son, but those very bodies (when allowed by law) which have renounced devotion towards her. The regard for his glory, which was professed in that keen jealousy of her exaltation, has not been supported by the event. They who were accused of worshipping a creature in his stead, still worship him; their accusers, who hoped to worship him so purely, they, wherever obstacles to the development of their principles have been removed, have ceased to worship him altogether.”
Regarding the Blessed Virgin Mary St. John Chrysostom states: “what thing greater or more famous than she, hath ever at any time been found or can be found? She alone is greater than heaven and earth… Neither prophets nor apostles, nor martyrs, nor patriarchs, nor angels, nor thrones, nor lordships, nor seraphim, nor cherubim, nor any other creature visible or invisible, can be found that is greater or more excellent than she. She is at once the handmaid and parent of God, at once virgin and mother. She is the mother of Him who was begotten of the Father before all ages, and who is acknowledged by angels and men to be Lord of all. Wouldst thou know how much nobler is this virgin than any of the heavenly powers? They stand before him with fear and trembling, veiling their faces with their wings, but she offereth humanity to Him whom she gave birth. Through her we obtain the remission of sins. Hail then, O Mother, heaven, damsel, maiden, throne, adornment and glory and foundation of our Church! Cease not to pray for us to thy Son and our Lord Jesus Christ! That through thee we may find mercy in the day of judgement, and may be able to obtain those good things which God has prepared for them that love him, by the grace and goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be ascribed all honour and glory and power, now and for ever and ever. Amen.”
We honour Mary, as higher than the cherubim and more glorious than the seraphim, because she above all, in giving birth to the Word made flesh, sought first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. 🔝
Praise O Mary. Praise the Father
Praise thy Saviour and thy Son
Praise the Everlasting Spirit
Who hath made thee Ark and Throne
O’er all creatures high exalted
Lowly praise the Three in One
Hail Mary! Hail Mary! Hail Mary! Full of grace.
Leave a Reply