Monday September 8, 2025

Matthew 1:1-16

The birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary!

This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

Today we celebrate the assigned birthday of the blessed Virgin Mary. She was indeed the first disciple of her son who learned how to properly support him in his ministry. One of the episodes that always stand out for me is when the crowds sent for her to come get her son because they (the crowd) thought he had gone mad. I cannot imagine her anguish as she went to get her boy. We want our children to be loved and accepted. And as parents our hearts break when our beloved little ones who really at some level are always little ones, are not accepted.

Today let us pray for all mothers who pray for their children. We pray that no mother or father ever go through the deep trails which the blessed mother went through. And if you are that mother, join your prayers to St Monica who prayed for Augustine and the blessed mother who was there for her misunderstood son to the very end.

When I was in Rome, I stood before the Pieta Statue and I totally got “it.”