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SEPTEMBER IS THE NINTH MONTH OF BLESSINGS OF 2022,
AS WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF MARY
In Don Bosco's heart beat a powerful love for the Blessed Virgin; she inspired him to carry out the mission God entrusted to his children. In September, we again remember the Virgin by celebrating her birth. This Thursday, September 8, we can sing, “Happy birthday, sweet Blessed Mother, Mary.”
The celebration of the birth of the Virgin Mary connects us with what we celebrated nine months ago, remembering her Immaculate Conception. It is a liturgical feast that places us in the history of salvation. We will know that the childhood and early life of the Virgin are not written in the New Testament. The Christian source that feeds what we know about her comes from the protoevangelium of Santiago, reporting from the 2nd century, which gives information about the first years of her life.
From this apocryphal Gospel, we know the name of the parents of the Virgin Mary; they were Saint Joachim and Saint Anne. Thinking about how the birth of Mary would happen, it was undoubtedly an ordinary event for the people of Nazareth, as usually occurs in the births of children in today's families. When the Virgin Mary was born, the world did not know who she was. Joachim and Anne welcomed her with joy and tenderness, as happens today in families. No one can accurately describe the historical facts beyond the description made by the protoevangelium of James. He mentions a celebration made by Joachim with priests, scribes, elders, and all the people of Israel when the girl turned one year old.
A newborn girl, the Virgin Mary, was born in a little town of little importance in the geography of Israel. That little girl was lovingly welcomed by a family and a community, learning from them to live confidently in the mystery of God's love, which would later lead her to become the mother of our Lord. Many people look at babies with indifference, forgetting that they, like the Virgin Mary, are unique, loved by their family, and called by God to bring Jesus into the world with a yes like the one Mary gave.
Don Bosco had that vision in the young; he saw in them the presence of Jesus; he accompanied them, forming good Christians and citizens who were people of change, progress, and holiness in society. One of them became a saint, Dominic Savio, and like him, Don Bosco said, there were many with a similar quality of life. As we remember the birth of the Blessed Mother, we also honor Jesus. This September, we pray for many children and teenagers who will begin or restart their faith formation (First Communion and Confirmation), and the Saturday oratory activities. We pray that they learn to recognize the love of the God who created them as people by calling them to a special mission, as Mary did by giving her yes.
This month we celebrate another event: more than twenty years ago, Fr. Justo began the Hispanic ministry. The priest tried to mark the beginning of this ministry with a big event, a kermesse-type celebration, around September 24. Over the years, the kermesse became a fundraising activity being moved to the first Sunday of the month, as we do today. As we celebrate Hispanic heritage in the United States, we will again celebrate the Cry of Independence on September 15, maintaining that idea of celebrating our Hispanic and Latino identity. There will be mariachi music; we will share typical dishes and folk dances to celebrate the "month of Hispanic heritage," remembering the beginning of Hispanic activity in the parish. Yes, we have much to celebrate this month! Have a great month, September!
Fr, Rafael Saiz, SDB, pastor
AS WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF MARY
In Don Bosco's heart beat a powerful love for the Blessed Virgin; she inspired him to carry out the mission God entrusted to his children. In September, we again remember the Virgin by celebrating her birth. This Thursday, September 8, we can sing, “Happy birthday, sweet Blessed Mother, Mary.”
The celebration of the birth of the Virgin Mary connects us with what we celebrated nine months ago, remembering her Immaculate Conception. It is a liturgical feast that places us in the history of salvation. We will know that the childhood and early life of the Virgin are not written in the New Testament. The Christian source that feeds what we know about her comes from the protoevangelium of Santiago, reporting from the 2nd century, which gives information about the first years of her life.
From this apocryphal Gospel, we know the name of the parents of the Virgin Mary; they were Saint Joachim and Saint Anne. Thinking about how the birth of Mary would happen, it was undoubtedly an ordinary event for the people of Nazareth, as usually occurs in the births of children in today's families. When the Virgin Mary was born, the world did not know who she was. Joachim and Anne welcomed her with joy and tenderness, as happens today in families. No one can accurately describe the historical facts beyond the description made by the protoevangelium of James. He mentions a celebration made by Joachim with priests, scribes, elders, and all the people of Israel when the girl turned one year old.
A newborn girl, the Virgin Mary, was born in a little town of little importance in the geography of Israel. That little girl was lovingly welcomed by a family and a community, learning from them to live confidently in the mystery of God's love, which would later lead her to become the mother of our Lord. Many people look at babies with indifference, forgetting that they, like the Virgin Mary, are unique, loved by their family, and called by God to bring Jesus into the world with a yes like the one Mary gave.
Don Bosco had that vision in the young; he saw in them the presence of Jesus; he accompanied them, forming good Christians and citizens who were people of change, progress, and holiness in society. One of them became a saint, Dominic Savio, and like him, Don Bosco said, there were many with a similar quality of life. As we remember the birth of the Blessed Mother, we also honor Jesus. This September, we pray for many children and teenagers who will begin or restart their faith formation (First Communion and Confirmation), and the Saturday oratory activities. We pray that they learn to recognize the love of the God who created them as people by calling them to a special mission, as Mary did by giving her yes.
This month we celebrate another event: more than twenty years ago, Fr. Justo began the Hispanic ministry. The priest tried to mark the beginning of this ministry with a big event, a kermesse-type celebration, around September 24. Over the years, the kermesse became a fundraising activity being moved to the first Sunday of the month, as we do today. As we celebrate Hispanic heritage in the United States, we will again celebrate the Cry of Independence on September 15, maintaining that idea of celebrating our Hispanic and Latino identity. There will be mariachi music; we will share typical dishes and folk dances to celebrate the "month of Hispanic heritage," remembering the beginning of Hispanic activity in the parish. Yes, we have much to celebrate this month! Have a great month, September!
Fr, Rafael Saiz, SDB, pastor
