Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Jump to prayer, menu suggestions, additional idea
Today we celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary. This is an important moment in Christian history, because God set Mary aside to be Jesus’ mother and in so doing granted that she would be without sin from the very beginning of her life.
Prayer for your Table
Heavenly Father,
You gifted Mary with such an abundance of grace that she was fully without sin.
We look to her as our ultimate role model of tenderness, depth, and love.
Her birth was also such an immense gift to her parents, Sts Joachim and Anne, who had waited years for a child.
Thank you for giving Mary such a beautiful, powerful gift; and preparing her from the start as a home to your only Son, a mother beyond compare.
Wrap us in her mantle of care, Lord, just as Joachim and Anne once wrapped her in swaddles.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.
Menu Suggestions
You could bake (or buy) a birthday cake or cupcakes and sing “Happy Birthday” to Mary! Blue frosting or blueberries inside could be an extra Marian-themed touch.
Additional Ideas
You could also swaddle a baby doll and include it at the table or wherever you normally pray as a reminder of Mary’s infanthood.
Upcoming in the Liturgical Year
Feast of the Archangels
September 29, 2026
Pentecost
May 16, 2027
The Feast of The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
May 17, 2027