By Emma Y. Fortuna
Thy birth, Virgin Mother of God,
heralded joy to all the world.
For from thou hast risen the Sun of justice,
Christ our God.
heralded joy to all the world.
For from thou hast risen the Sun of justice,
Christ our God.
All information about the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, her parentage, her nativity, or her childhood comes from the early tradition of the Church, recorded in the middle of the second century (about 175 A.D) in the apocryphal book, called – the Protoevangelium of St. James.
From the Protoevangelium of St. James we learn that the parents of Blessed Virgin Mary, Joachim and Anna, were righteous and that they greatly devoted their entire lives to God. Her father was a descendant of King David, while her mother came from the priestly line of Aaron. They lived to a ripe old age but never had children. This grieved them so much because in the Old Testament when God blessed His chosen people, He always promised to bless them with numerous offspring. Among the Jews, childlessness was considered as a sign of God’s rejection, a great punishment for one’s sin and a “public disgrace” (Luke 1:25). Thus, Joachim and Anna continued to petition God to send them children. They prayed and fasted that God would grant their desire for a child.
But God, in His divine providence, was actually preparing Joachim and Anna for “great things” (Luke 1:49). He showed them a unique favor, for the child to be born to them was to become the Mother of the Messiah, the promised Savior of the world.
Joachim and Anna had the greatest joy of their lives when an angel appeared to Joachim saying: “Joachim, rejoice! God has heard your prayers and your wife Anna shall conceive and give birth to a daughter, whose nativity will become joy for the entire world.”
And to Anna, the angel Gabriel appeared saying: “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you!” When Mary heard this she was greatly trouble at what the angel said. Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and a bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.” …Mary then said, “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:26-38).
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated on the 8th of September was not accidental. It was well prepared by God from the very beginning of sacred history. Already in the Garden of Eden, God promised our first parents, Adam and Eve, to send a Savior through the providential Woman, whose “seed will crush the head of the serpent” (Gen. 28:10-17). Her Nativity has taken away not only the “public disgrace” from her parents, but also give joy to all people because she was preordained by God to be the Savior of the world.
The Blessed Virgin Mary was conceived without the stain of sin as a special grace because God selected her to become the mother of His Son (feast of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated on December 8, and declared by Pope Pius IX in 1854 – the dogma of her Immaculate Conception). Her birth was the most wonderful gift God has given to us as a reminder of his all-powerful love for mankind. He gave us his earthly mother, Mary, to comfort and love us the way only a mother can. Through Mary, he sent his only Son to free us from sin and death. This too is one of the many ways God wants us to turn to him through Mary.
Although Sacred Scripture does not record Mary’s birth, she is the subject of much veneration in the Christian faith, particularly the Roman Catholic Church. The feast of her nativity has been celebrated in the church at least since the 8th Century. Orthodox and Anglican Churches also celebrate it on September 8. Her feast is one of the oldest Marian solemnities. At the beginning the feast of her nativity was without any major solemnity. Later, in the seventh century solemn celebration spread out to Rome and throughout the entire West.
When her feast came to be celebrated with greater solemnity, certain liturgical hymns were composed. However, in the eighth and ninth centuries, original hymns were replaced by more meaningful and more elaborate compositions still in use today. The present liturgical hymns of the Byzantine rite, taken from Vespers and Matins, were composed in the eighth century and in the ninth century the monks also composed some hymns. Our local hymnographers in Calbayog: the late Malaquias Nonato and Joe Gomez also composed hymns both in English and in local dialect. The liturgical hymns also exalt Joseph and Mary for their love and devotion, their faith, and unwavering confidence in God.
The people of the City of Calbayog celebrate the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8 with great honor and solemnity. The celebration starts with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass followed by novena prayers and petitions for nine consecutive days. And, in order to bring Christ and the Blessed Mother to the people to remind them of the coming festivities, the venue of each day of the novena is assigned to the different establishments and sectors of society. Funfare also start weeks prior to September 8. There is the ferries wheel, which everyone, young and old enjoy while the business people put on their booths to sell their goods.
At the start of the novena the main altar in the church is well decorated with beautiful flowers, tapestry, and bright lights. Every family no matter how poor they are try to prepare something for someone who might come along for a visit to bring good wishes to the family at this festive occasion. Special and delicious menu are always on the table. Of course the favorite roasted pig “lechon” with its shinny and crispy skin is never overlooked.
Early dawn on fiesta day the band, traditionally called “diana” plays around town to wake people up and remind them that it’s time to start the day with church. Our great, great grandparents and parents always remind us to start the day by attending holy mass. The Pontifical Mass, a solemn mass celebrated by the bishop and concelebrated by other priests from the different parishes is always well attended. It’s so pleasing to see parishioners and guests falling in line during offertory to give in their donation. The procession with the decorated “carroza” of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is also well attended.
A colorful parade and street fest coordinated by representatives from the government, private organizations, and schools as well as from the neighboring towns are always looked forward to. The celebration ends with an evening of dinner and dance and it is at this occasion that you’ll meet old friends, classmates, guests, and make new friends. It is a celebration of fellowship, camaraderie and community.
It is very important for all of us to remember that the best way to express our love and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is to receive the holy sacraments (confession and communion) on her feast days. When we receive Holy Communion, we carry Jesus in our hearts, just as Mary carried Him under her immaculate heart for nine months. She is our model for our faith in the way she gave her life totally to God. She teaches us how to love God. We turn to her for help whenever we needed help.
Our religious traditions have very deep spiritual meaning. We must learn to understand and be acquainted with them and try to preserve them!
Preserve our traditions!
____________________
Sources:
From the Protoevangelium of St. James we learn that the parents of Blessed Virgin Mary, Joachim and Anna, were righteous and that they greatly devoted their entire lives to God. Her father was a descendant of King David, while her mother came from the priestly line of Aaron. They lived to a ripe old age but never had children. This grieved them so much because in the Old Testament when God blessed His chosen people, He always promised to bless them with numerous offspring. Among the Jews, childlessness was considered as a sign of God’s rejection, a great punishment for one’s sin and a “public disgrace” (Luke 1:25). Thus, Joachim and Anna continued to petition God to send them children. They prayed and fasted that God would grant their desire for a child.
But God, in His divine providence, was actually preparing Joachim and Anna for “great things” (Luke 1:49). He showed them a unique favor, for the child to be born to them was to become the Mother of the Messiah, the promised Savior of the world.
Joachim and Anna had the greatest joy of their lives when an angel appeared to Joachim saying: “Joachim, rejoice! God has heard your prayers and your wife Anna shall conceive and give birth to a daughter, whose nativity will become joy for the entire world.”
And to Anna, the angel Gabriel appeared saying: “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you!” When Mary heard this she was greatly trouble at what the angel said. Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and a bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.” …Mary then said, “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:26-38).
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated on the 8th of September was not accidental. It was well prepared by God from the very beginning of sacred history. Already in the Garden of Eden, God promised our first parents, Adam and Eve, to send a Savior through the providential Woman, whose “seed will crush the head of the serpent” (Gen. 28:10-17). Her Nativity has taken away not only the “public disgrace” from her parents, but also give joy to all people because she was preordained by God to be the Savior of the world.
The Blessed Virgin Mary was conceived without the stain of sin as a special grace because God selected her to become the mother of His Son (feast of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated on December 8, and declared by Pope Pius IX in 1854 – the dogma of her Immaculate Conception). Her birth was the most wonderful gift God has given to us as a reminder of his all-powerful love for mankind. He gave us his earthly mother, Mary, to comfort and love us the way only a mother can. Through Mary, he sent his only Son to free us from sin and death. This too is one of the many ways God wants us to turn to him through Mary.
Although Sacred Scripture does not record Mary’s birth, she is the subject of much veneration in the Christian faith, particularly the Roman Catholic Church. The feast of her nativity has been celebrated in the church at least since the 8th Century. Orthodox and Anglican Churches also celebrate it on September 8. Her feast is one of the oldest Marian solemnities. At the beginning the feast of her nativity was without any major solemnity. Later, in the seventh century solemn celebration spread out to Rome and throughout the entire West.
When her feast came to be celebrated with greater solemnity, certain liturgical hymns were composed. However, in the eighth and ninth centuries, original hymns were replaced by more meaningful and more elaborate compositions still in use today. The present liturgical hymns of the Byzantine rite, taken from Vespers and Matins, were composed in the eighth century and in the ninth century the monks also composed some hymns. Our local hymnographers in Calbayog: the late Malaquias Nonato and Joe Gomez also composed hymns both in English and in local dialect. The liturgical hymns also exalt Joseph and Mary for their love and devotion, their faith, and unwavering confidence in God.
The people of the City of Calbayog celebrate the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8 with great honor and solemnity. The celebration starts with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass followed by novena prayers and petitions for nine consecutive days. And, in order to bring Christ and the Blessed Mother to the people to remind them of the coming festivities, the venue of each day of the novena is assigned to the different establishments and sectors of society. Funfare also start weeks prior to September 8. There is the ferries wheel, which everyone, young and old enjoy while the business people put on their booths to sell their goods.
At the start of the novena the main altar in the church is well decorated with beautiful flowers, tapestry, and bright lights. Every family no matter how poor they are try to prepare something for someone who might come along for a visit to bring good wishes to the family at this festive occasion. Special and delicious menu are always on the table. Of course the favorite roasted pig “lechon” with its shinny and crispy skin is never overlooked.
Early dawn on fiesta day the band, traditionally called “diana” plays around town to wake people up and remind them that it’s time to start the day with church. Our great, great grandparents and parents always remind us to start the day by attending holy mass. The Pontifical Mass, a solemn mass celebrated by the bishop and concelebrated by other priests from the different parishes is always well attended. It’s so pleasing to see parishioners and guests falling in line during offertory to give in their donation. The procession with the decorated “carroza” of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is also well attended.
A colorful parade and street fest coordinated by representatives from the government, private organizations, and schools as well as from the neighboring towns are always looked forward to. The celebration ends with an evening of dinner and dance and it is at this occasion that you’ll meet old friends, classmates, guests, and make new friends. It is a celebration of fellowship, camaraderie and community.
It is very important for all of us to remember that the best way to express our love and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is to receive the holy sacraments (confession and communion) on her feast days. When we receive Holy Communion, we carry Jesus in our hearts, just as Mary carried Him under her immaculate heart for nine months. She is our model for our faith in the way she gave her life totally to God. She teaches us how to love God. We turn to her for help whenever we needed help.
Our religious traditions have very deep spiritual meaning. We must learn to understand and be acquainted with them and try to preserve them!
Preserve our traditions!
____________________
Sources:
The Divine Office Matins (Morning Prayer)
Living Waters, The New Testament in English Version, 4th edition.
Byzantine Leaflet Series, Byzantine Seminary Press, Pittsburgh, PA
Research Collection of Rev. Fr. Cantius J. Kobak, OFM, Franciscan Missionary
Mary Through the Centuries: Her Place in the History of Culture, Jan. 1923, Jaroslav Pelikan
Alone of All Her Sex, The Myth and the Cult of the Virgin Mary, Library of Congress Cataloging Pub. Data, Marina Warner.
Living Waters, The New Testament in English Version, 4th edition.
Byzantine Leaflet Series, Byzantine Seminary Press, Pittsburgh, PA
Research Collection of Rev. Fr. Cantius J. Kobak, OFM, Franciscan Missionary
Mary Through the Centuries: Her Place in the History of Culture, Jan. 1923, Jaroslav Pelikan
Alone of All Her Sex, The Myth and the Cult of the Virgin Mary, Library of Congress Cataloging Pub. Data, Marina Warner.
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