September 8 – Nativity of Mama Mary  

Although it was a Tuesday, not a Sunday, the church was full. Devotees came to celebrate the Nativity of Mama Mary last September 8.

Why this devotion and love for Mama Mary?

Her brief and sincere reply during the Annunciation by Angel Gabriel—“I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled”—immediately directed all attention to God and to how much God loved the world: “He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Devotees continue to be inspired and guided by her, specifically by her Magnificat, which manifested how joyful, grateful, and blessed she felt because of her love, obedience, and complete surrender to God and His plan.

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.”

Her love and faith in God were so deep that, despite being very young and pondering what Angel Gabriel’s message meant—or the shepherds’ words, Simeon’s words, or even Jesus’ words when she and Joseph found Him in the Temple after days of searching—Mama Mary remained “quiet, peaceful, and spiritually receptive” and “treasured all these things in her heart.”

Two encounters with her Son showed how fully she understood and accepted her role as the mother of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

There was no feeling of entitlement, no insistence that she was His mother. She continued to obey God’s plan for her and for Jesus Christ.

During the finding of Jesus at the Temple: “Three days later they finally discovered him. He was in the Temple, sitting among the teachers of the Law, discussing deep questions with them and amazing everyone with his understanding and answers. His parents didn’t know what to think.

“Son!” his mother said to him. “Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”

Jesus, her Son, replied: “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you realize that I would be here at the Temple, in my Father’s House?” But they didn’t understand what he meant.

Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them, and his mother stored away all these things in her heart.”

At a wedding at Cana, on the third day, when the wine ran out, “the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’”

And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Mama Mary did not address Jesus again but instead told the servants to do “whatever he tells you.”

Very wisely and humanely, yet with divine discernment, Mama Mary left the decision and the will to Jesus—to do what He wanted the servants to do, if He wanted to.

Throughout her life’s journey, Mama Mary remained faithful to her commitment and love for God and His will, no matter the earthly woes and sorrows.

From the Annunciation to their flight to Egypt, from the birth of Jesus in a manger all the way to His persecution, Passion, Crucifixion, and death, she firmly remained God’s handmaid and Jesus Christ’s mother, surrendering all to God’s love, His plan, and His will.

Mama Mary, the Mother of Christ, is also the Mother of the Church.

“At the Annunciation, the Holy Spirit descended upon her to make the Incarnation of the Son of God possible.

“At Pentecost, the same Spirit descended upon the Christian community gathered in prayer, with Mary at the center, at the birth of the Church, the Body of Christ.”