Rejoice! Mary was born for us, Mary: Day 190

Rejoice! Mary was born for us

We should celebrate Mary’s nativity, St. Alphonsus declares, because she came into the world full of grace, not only for her own glory, but also for our benefit.

St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that “God gives each person grace in pro- portion to the dignity for which he destines him.” St. Paul teaches us the same thing when he says that God “has made us fit ministers of the New Testament” (see 2 Cor 3:6)—that is, the apostles received gifts from God in proportion to the greatness of the office with which they were charged. St. Bernardine of Siena adds, “It is an established principle in theology, that when a person is chosen by God for any position, he receives not only the qualities necessary for it, but even the gifts that he needs to sustain that position in a fitting way.”

Now Mary was chosen to be the Mother of God. So it was quite fitting that God should adorn her, in the first moment of her existence, with an immense grace, and one of an order that is superior to that of all other human beings and angels. For that grace had to correspond with the immense and most high dignity to which God exalted her.

St. Peter Damian says: “Just as the light of the sun far surpasses that of the stars, so that in the daylight they are no longer visible—it overwhelms them, and it’s as if they weren’t even there—so does the great Virgin Mother surpass in holiness the whole court of heaven.” Let’s rejoice, then, with our beloved infant Mary, who was born so holy, so dear to God, and so full of grace. Let’s rejoice, in fact, not only on her account, but also on our own. For she came into the world full of grace, not only for her own glory, but also for our benefit.
—St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
Do I celebrate Mary’s birthday? How do these insights help me to grasp more firmly the significance of that day?

CLOSING PRAYER
From a “Novena to Maria Bambina”: Holy child Mary, obtain for me a great devotion to you, the first creature of God’s love.
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