CAPG's Blog: Nativity of our Lady: Mary's Sublime Vocation

Nativity of our Lady: Mary's Sublime Vocation

by VP

Posted on Monday September 08, 2025 at 12:00AM in Meditations

Giotto di Bondone: Scenes from the Birth of Our Lady

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

GIVE God thanks for all the graces and privileges bestowed on the Blessed Virgin. Rejoice in spirit on this day of her birth, and for the approaching mercy of the incarnation, which was then drawing near. While God is liberally pouring forth his graces on her, step in, and beseech him to give you a blessing also. Let his bounty confirm your hope, and make you earnest in your prayers.

Pray in particular for that virtue, of which you are most in want. How far are you from her humility, her purity, charity, and patience? Be not then dull and slothful, when you see your wants, and have encouragement enough to hope for remedy.

The memory of past blessings ought to be a subject of perpetual joy and thanksgiving. Heaven is the place, where these holy affections are to be perfected; but here on earth we are not to be wanting in those exercises, which we hope will be our employment for ever. Bow down therefore, and with a true sense of gratitude, bless and adore the infinite goodness of your God, for the rich present which he made this day to the earth, in the birth of the Blessed Virgin, of whom was to be born the Saviour of the world. Repeat your thanks; and see that the real sentiments of your heart exceed the expressions of your lips. And having sincerely performed this part of your devotion, then turn your thoughts, and see what lessons the present festival affords.

Observe the silence in which Almighty God performs so great a work. The Blessed Virgin is born; and though she comes accomplished with so many graces, and is designed to be the Mother of the world's Redeemer, yet see how all is done without noise, and nothing appears to recommend her to the eyes of men. If this be the method which God has chosen, let it be yours also. Endeavour to do all things as quietly, and with as little appearance as possible. Whatever good you do, let there be no trumpet to proclaim your praise. You know that he is your witness who is to be your reward: be contented with him, and seek no other. For as far as you desire to raise yourself with men, so much you lose in the sight of God. And will not this be an afflicting disappointment, if after the performance of many Christian works, such as the gospel recommends, you shall find at the last day that your reward has been already received in the good opinion which you sought for, and gained with men; but that nothing is to come from God, because for God you have done nothing. For He who is just, cannot be the rewarder of self-love, which has had the direction of all that you have done. As you are not to desire witnesses of the good that you do, so be careful to avoid whatever pride suggests in favour of yourself. Never boast of your abilities or good works. Suppress those hints, by which your bashful pride is ready to provoke the tongues of others in your own praise. All these are ways, by which unhappy men seek to be great with men; but since God teaches you another way, renounce your own and follow his.Follow his, and it will make you averse to every thing that is noisy. What is there in state, in numerous trains and pomps? There is show and noise, and orderly confusion at the best. There is all contrivance to magnify this sinful clay, and make the world admire. All is the effect of self-love; but not one step towards God. If your circumstances oblige you to any part of this, let propriety and not pride direct you. While you admit of state, strive not to love it, nor think yourself greater for it. Rather lament the injustice of being set up to be admired and courted; when on so many accounts, you deserve to be despised. Will it not one day be the exaggeration of your sins, that you can find no satisfaction unless all creatures are ready at your beck, while you are so, often wanting in your obligations to your God? Reflect how little there is in you of what you expect from them, and thence conclude whether you are to love and seek, or be afraid of state and ostentation." The Catholic Year; Or Daily Lessons on the Feasts of the Church By Rev.Fr. John GOTHER

"Mary was born in order to be the Mother of Jesus. : "Of whom was born Jesus." This is the principle of all her privileges, the summing up of all her praises. (...) It is as the Mother of the Redeemer of mankind that she will be the refuge and advocate of sinners. She is the aurora which precedes and ushers in the morning sun. (...) Certain it is that if men had known the blessings which Mary's nativity drew upon them, there would have been throughout the whole world a repetition of that which occurred among the Jews at their having been preserved from death through the meditation of Ester. "A new light seemed to rise, you, honor, dancing in all peoples...wonderful rejoicing." (Est. viii. 16,17). You also, O Priests, were born for a sublime destiny! Accomplish it faithfully, and you shall be the cause of an unspeakable joy for heaven and earth. To give Jesus to the world, and with Jesus to give it all blessings, such is your vocation, and such was the vocation of Mary. This is the reason why the holy Virgin has such a warm affection for good priests and lavishes upon them such truly maternal cares. Source: September 8, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin p444. Meditations for the Use of the Secular Clergy, from the French of Father Chaignon, S.J. Volume 2. 1907

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