08/09 NATIVITY OF MARY

On 8th SEPTEMBER the Church celebrates the feast of the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Mary should inspire us because she was such an ordinary person. She was born into a normal family, and had a normal life for her time. Her parents are recognised as saints for the way they raised her to be so open to God. It was this openness that allowed her to cooperate with God in the birth of His Son Jesus.

Two of Mary’s many titles are Our Lady Queen of Peace and Our Lady of Mental Peace.

Let us ask for her prayers for our world, wherever there is conflict and violence. Let us pray that through Our Lady's prayers, that the hearts of those who seek war and violence would instead work for peace.

Let us also pray for all who suffer from a lack of mental peace. Those who do not have peace in their own heart; the worried, the frightened, the anxious, the sad, the angry and the lonely, and all who suffer from a lack of peace in any way.

Often the problems of the world and our own worries can cause us to close ourselves off from the needs of others, to retreat and hide away. Let us ask Mary to pray for our peace, so that we may cooperate more fully with God, and live a life of fullness free from all fear and anxiety.

Let us pray...

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,

our life, our sweetness and our hope.

To you do we cry,

poor banished children of Eve.

To you do we send up our sighs,

mourning and weeping in this valley of tears

Turn then, most gracious advocate,

your eyes of mercy toward us,

and after this exile

show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb,

Jesus.

O clement, O loving,

O sweet Virgin Mary.

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Our Lady Queen of Peace: Pray for us.

Our Lady of Mental Peace: Pray for us.