The Feast of the Birth of Our Lady | Friday 8 September 2023

Today is Friday 8 September, the feast of the Birth of Our Lady, in the 22nd week of Ordinary time.

Nóirín Ní Riain sings the Magnificat, the song of Mary: “My soul glorifies the Lord. My Spirit rejoices in God my Saviour. He looks on his servant in her lowliness. Henceforth, all ages will call me blessed.” As I listen, can I sense the Lord looking on me in my lowliness, and can I rejoice in him and in all that he does for me?

Magnificat anima mea Dominum;
et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo,
quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae;
Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.
quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est, et sanctum nomen eius,
Et misericordia eius a progenie in progenies timentibus eum.
Fecit potentiam in brachio suo;
dispersit superbos mente cordis sui;
deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit humiles;
esurientes implevit bonis
et divites dimisit inanes.
Suscepit Israel puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae suae,
sicut locutus est ad patres nostros,
Abraham et semini eius in saecula.


My soul doth magnify the Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden: For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations.
He hath shewed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel:
As he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.

Today’s reading is from the Prophet Micah.

Micah 5:1-4

Now you are walled around with a wall;
siege is laid against us;
with a rod they strike the ruler of Israel
upon the cheek.
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labour has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return
to the people of Israel.
And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth.

Today we celebrate the Birth of Our Lady, nine months from the feast of the Immaculate Conception. We do not usually celebrate the birth of our saints in the Church. But Mary’s birth carries a sense of prophecy. Our reading from Micah, speaks of a great promise and a profound hope for the people of God.

We recognise ‘Bethlehem’ and the prophetic message that will bring us to a new birth and new beginnings. Now, Mary’s birth sets this prophecy in motion.


Do you have an awareness of these connections, maybe in faith, perhaps something in your own family where you recognise a story being played out?

Mary may never have imagined power or wealth. The humility and simplicity found in Bethlehem speaks of a life lived differently. As Bethlehem was an unlikely place for the Saviour, so Mary may well have been the least expected of people to be chosen.


How do you respond to the circumstances of Jesus’ birth? How does this humble beginning speak to you?

As we hear the prophecy again, consider the legacy of those who waited with hope and anticipation for its fulfilment.


‘For now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.’ Allow Mary to guide you to her son. In this time of reflection, acknowledge her place in our story of faith. Share with the Lord your hopes for today.


Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.