“Men usually celebrate the birth of their children with great feasts and rejoicings; but they should rather pity them and show signs of mourning and grief on reflecting that they were born not only deprived of grace and reason, but worse than this – they are infected with sin and are children of wrath and therefore condemned to misery and death. It is indeed right however, to celebrate with festivity and universal joy the birth of our infant Mar y for she first saw the light of this world a babe…in great merit and virtue.”
—St. Alphonsus Liguori
Mary was chosen to be the mother of God that is why she was blessed with perfect sanctity. She is the “living temple” in which dwelt the Divine presence. Mary is filled with grace for the benefit of mankind for she has become “the ladder to heaven and the most true Mediatrix between men and God.” (St. Lawrence Justinian). While the other saints are commemorated on the day of their death, the Church commemorates the feasts of both St. John the Baptist and our Mother Mary on their birthdays because their entry into the world was key to the salvation of all.
