SEPTEMBER 8 – THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
THE birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary announced joy and the near approach of salvation to the lost world. Mary was brought forth in the world not like other children of Adam, infected with the loathsome contagion of sin, but pure, holy, beautiful, and glorious, adorned with all the most precious graces which became her who was chosen to be the Mother of God. She appeared indeed in the weak state of our mortality; but in the eyes of Heaven she already transcended the highest seraph in purity, brightness, and the richest ornaments of grace. If we celebrate the birthdays of the great ones of this earth, how ought we to rejoice in that of the Virgin Mary, presenting to God the best homage of our praises and thanksgiving for the great mercies He has shown in her, and imploring her mediation with her Son in our behalf! Christ will not reject the supplications of His mother, whom He was pleased to obey whilst on earth. Her love, care, and tenderness for Him, the title and qualities which she bears, the charity and graces with which she is adorned, and the crown of glory with which she is honored, must incline Him readily to receive her recommendations and petitions.
WORD OF THE DAY
SINLESSNESS. Freedom from moral offenses against God. Absolute sinlessness, including impeccability or the inability to sin, was possessed only by Christ because as a divine person he could not contradict his own divine nature. Mary was also sinless, and could not sin, but only as a unique grace because she was the Mother of God. The rest of humanity is subject to the common weakness of fallen human nature. Except for an extraordinary privilege, accorded to few saints, no one is able to avoid for his whole life at least semideliberate venial sins.
Modern Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon SJ (Get the real one at Eternal Life — don’t accept an abridged or edited version of this masterpiece!)
This article, SEPTEMBER 8 – THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN. is a post from The Bellarmine Forum.
https://bellarmineforum.org/september-8-the-nativity-of-the-blessed-virgin/
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