Wednesday, September 8th, is the feast of the Nativity of Mary, the Mother of God. It was the great Greek Church Father, St John Damascene, who wrote:
The day of the Nativity of the Mother of God is a day of universal joy because through the Mother of God, the entire human race was renewed, and the sorrow of the first mother, Eve, was transformed into joy.
St John Damascene gives us the reasons why we should be rejoicing on this special day. Thanks to Mary’s birth the entire human race is renewed because it is set into the process of its salvation, which comes from the unique Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary. Mary’s presence in our midst is the joy that God the Father is turning our tears of sorrow into tears of joy!