Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

On September 8, the Catholic Church celebrates the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The feast day comes nine months after the celebration of Mary's immaculate conception (December 8).

The circumstances of Mary's birth or childhood are not included in the Bible, but tradition has it that she was the daughter of Saints Anne and Joachim and was born in Jerusalem. Although we don't know anything about her childhood, we can trust that her parents raised her to love and serve God, evidenced by the faith and trust she placed in him when the Angel Gabriel appeared to her to let her know she would give birth to Jesus. 

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of only three birthdays the Church celebrates, the others being those of St. John the Baptist and Jesus.

Parish Celebrations

Christ the Divine Mercy Parish, East Millinocket

Christ the Divine Mercy Parish will celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8 with a Mass at 6 p.m. at Mother Mary's Shrine, located at St. Peter Church, 58 Cedar Street in East Millinocket. The Mass will be followed by a procession and a birthday cake in honor of Mary. In the days leading up to the Mass, parishioners have also been joining nightly at the shrine to pray a novena and the Rosary.

Parish of the Precious Blood, Caribou 

The Parish of the Precious Blood with hold a special Mass on September 8, the feast day, at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 333 Main Street in Presque Isle. The Mass will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be followed by a potluck supper in the Knights of Columbus Hall on 12 Chapman Road, behind the church.

St. Peter the Fisherman Parish, Machias

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary will also be celebrated by St. Peter the Fisherman Parish in Machias. The parish guild is holding Mary's Birthday Brunch on September 10 at Holy Name Parish Hall, 44 Broadway Street in Machias. The brunch will begin at 9:30 a.m., following the 8:30 a.m. Mass. Parishioners are encouraged to bring brunch items to share at the potluck event.