Today, we celebrate the birth of our dear Mother and I wish to thank God for the day she was born. That could have been a very ordinary day in Nazareth, but I am certain that, her parents, St. Joachim, and St. Anne were excited, as were their family, neighbors and friends. I can imagine the great rejoicing in heaven on that day. The conception of our dear Mother Mary opened the door to salvation for us all. By God’s grace, she was touched there and then. She was born, “full of grace.”I am thankful to our Mother Mary for her life. I thank you, dear Mother for your openness and submission and for your “fiat” (YES). I thank you for the way you raised Jesus to be so full of compassion and to be a friend of sinners, like me. I thank you for your comforting presence to the Apostles in the early days of waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Most of all, I thank you for all the inspiration and witness that you have given me and the rest of mankind in our walk towards our true home with the Father. Thank you …. Thank you for always being there for us as our Mother who intercedes for her children. Thank you for everything that our words and our hearts could hardly express.

Dear Mother Mary, I ask you to always place me with your Son and let me know Him, love Him, and serve Him more dearly and closely. Stand guard over my heart and let His gift of peace and love to remain deep within my being, today and always. Yes, my dear Mother, I believe and always “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me.

And our dear Mother and Mother of our God, pray for me a sinner, now and at the hour of my death, amen.