Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was celebrated at least by the sixth century, when St. Romanos the Melodist, an Eastern Christian who composed many of the hymns used in the Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox liturgies, composed a hymn for the feast. The feast spread to Rome in the seventh century, but it was a couple more centuries before it was celebrated throughout the West.

The source for the story of the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Protoevangelium of James, an apocryphal gospel written about A.D. 150. From it, we learn the names of Mary's parents, Joachim and Anna, as well as the tradition that the couple was childless until an angel appeared to Anna and told her that she would conceive. (Many of the same details appear also in the later apocryphal Gospel of the Nativity of Mary.)

The traditional date of the feast, September 8, falls exactly nine months after the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is not celebrated today with the same solemnity as the Immaculate Conception. It is, nonetheless, a very important feast, because it prepares the way for the birth of Christ.

Br. Joachim Morgan O.S.B.,

shares his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saints Joachim and Anne, 

and the feast of the Nativity of Mary

Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison. Christe, audi nos. Christe, exaudi nos. Pater de caelis Deus, miserere nobis. Fili redemptor mundi Deus, miserere nobis. Spiritus Sancte Deus, miserere nobis. Sancta Trinitas unus Deus, miserere nobis. Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis. Sancta Dei Genitrix, ora pro nobis.  Sancta Virgo virginum, ora pro nobis.  Mater Christi, ora pro nobis.  Mater divinae gratiae, ora pro nobis.  Mater purissima, ora pro nobis.  Mater castissima, ora pro nobis.  Mater inviolata, ora pro nobis.  Mater intemerata, ora pro nobis.  Mater amabilis, ora pro nobis.  Mater admirabilis, ora pro nobis.  Mater boni consilii, ora pro nobis.  Mater Creatoris, ora pro nobis.  Mater Salvatoris, ora pro nobis.  Virgo prudentissima, ora pro nobis.  Virgo veneranda, ora pro nobis.  Virgo praedicanda, ora pro nobis.  Virgo potens, ora pro nobis.  Virgo clemens, ora pro nobis.  Virgo fidelis, ora pro nobis.  Speculum justitiae, ora pro nobis.  Sedes sapientiae, ora pro nobis.  Causa nostrae laetitiae, ora pro nobis.  Vas spirituale, ora pro nobis.  Vas honorabile, ora pro nobis.  Vas insigne devotionis, ora pro nobis.  Rosa mystica, ora pro nobis.  Turris Davidica, ora pro nobis.  Turris eburnea, ora pro nobis.  Domus aurea, ora pro nobis.  Foederis arca, ora pro nobis.  Janua caeli, ora pro nobis.  Stella matutina, ora pro nobis.  Salus infirmorum, ora pro nobis.  Refugium peccatorum, ora pro nobis.  Consolatrix afflictionem, ora pro nobis.  Auxilium Christianorum, ora pro nobis.  Regina angelorum, ora pro nobis.  Regina patriarcharum, ora pro nobis.  Regina prophetarum, ora pro nobis.  Regina apostolorum, ora pro nobis.  Regina martyrum, ora pro nobis.  Regina confessorum, ora pro nobis.  Regina virginum, ora pro nobis.  Regina sanctorum omnium, ora pro nobis.  Regina sine labe originali concepta, ora pro nobis.  Regina sacratissimi Rosarii, ora pro nobis.  Regina pacis, ora pro nobis.  Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: Parce nobis, Domine.  Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: Exaudi nos, Domine.  Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: Miserere nobis.  Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genetrix, Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.  Oremus. Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui gloriosae Virginis Matris Mariae corpus et animam, ut dignum Filii tui habitaculum effici mereretur, Spiritu Sancto cooperante, praeparasti: da, ut cujus commemoratione laetamur, ejus pia intercessione ab instantibus malis, et a morte perpetua liberemur. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Lord have mercy on us. Lord have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us. Lord have mercy on us. Lord have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. Holy Mary, pray for us Holy Mother of God, pray for us Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us Mother of Christ, pray for us Mother of divine grace, pray for us Mother most pure, pray for us Mother most chaste, pray for us Mother inviolate, pray for us Mother undefiled, pray for us Mother most amiable, pray for us Mother most admirable, pray for us Mother of good counsel, pray for us Mother of our Creator, pray for us Mother of our Redeemer, pray for us Virgin most prudent, pray for us Virgin most venerable, pray for us Virgin most renowned, pray for us Virgin most powerful, pray for us Virgin most merciful, pray for us Virgin most faithful, pray for us Mirror of justice, pray for us Seat of wisdom, pray for us Cause of our joy, pray for us Spritual vessel, pray for us Vessel of honor, pray for us Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us Mystical rose, pray for us Tower of David, pray for us Tower of ivory, pray for us House of gold, pray for us Ark of the covenant, pray for us Gate of Heaven, pray for us Morning Star, pray for us Health of the sick, pray for us Refuge of sinners, pray for us Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us Help of Christians, pray for us Queen of Angels, pray for us Queen of Patriarchs, pray for us Queen of Prophets, pray for us Queen of Apostles, pray for us Queen of Martyrs, pray for us Queen of Confessors, pray for us Queen of Virgins, pray for us Queen of all Saints, pray for us Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us Queen of peace, pray for us Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world: Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world: Graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us. Pray for us, most holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray. O God, whose only begotten Son, by his life, death and resurrection has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech you, that while meditating of the mysteries of the most holy rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through Christ our Lord. Amen.