September 8, 2023 Reflection – The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary September 8, 2023 Dear Family of Mary! Happy Birthday, Dearest Mother Mary! We love you so much and want to honor you on this Feast Day!! Your birthday is so very important! God had a plan for your life from the moment of your Immaculate Conception. But that great gift was not the end of the story! You were carried in your mother’s womb for 9 months, and then born, just like all of us! We are so excited to honor you in your birth! Today, let’s pray this lovely litany to Our Lady: “The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Life!” Mary is indeed the Mother of Life because she bore the Author of Life in her womb! She received Him in purity and sheltered Him for 9 months, giving Him sustenance from her pure body, and then Jesus was born in a stable, our Savior and Lord. Mary knows about accepting life, nurturing life, and protecting life! We honor you, Mother, as the Mother of Life for us today. Your life is a miracle and so are all of our lives!! We thank God for the miracle of our lives! Here is the Litany: Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Life! The Response is: Mary, pray for us. Mary, Mother of all Life, help us to respect human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. R. Mary, Mother of Compassion, You showed us how valuable a single life can be; Help us to guard and protect the lives of all people entrusted to our care. R. Mary, Mother of the Child Jesus, with St. Joseph you formed the Holy Family. Guard and protect all families in this earthly life; R. Mary, Mother Most Holy, You sanctified the vocation of motherhood; Pour out your heavenly aid on all mothers and help them to be holy. R. Mary, Mother of Sorrows, Simeon’s prophecy foretold that a sword of suffering would pierce your heart; Bring comfort and hope to all mothers who suffer over their children. R. Mary, Full of Grace, You had a choice in responding to God’s call; Help us always to say “Yes” to the will of God in our lives, And strive always to do whatever he tells us. R. Mary, Comforter of the Afflicted, Pour forth your heavenly grace on all who are in need of God’s healing, Especially those involved in abortion; Help them to experience the love and mercy of Christ, your Son. R. Mary, Intercessor and Advocate, We lift up the poor, the displaced, the marginalized and vulnerable members of society; Help them to never abandon hope, but to place their trust in the God who gave them life. R. Mary, Mother of the Word Incarnate, you bore in your womb him whom the heavens cannot contain; Help us to bear witness to Christ by the example of our lives And show the world the extravagant love of God. R. All: Remember, o most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To you do we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer them. Amen (https://www.usccb.org/prayers/litany-blessed-virgin-mary-mother-life) Once again: Happy Birthday, Dearest Mother Mary!! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan Mary TV