Most saints are remembered on the day of their death which is considered their birth into heaven. However, there are three earthly birthdays in the liturgical calendar: that of Jesus, John the Baptist and the Blessed Mother. The birth of Jesus and that of John the Baptist are recorded in scripture so their inclusion in the prayer life of the Church happened early on. The birth of Mary was not remembered in the Bible although there are early (second and third centuries) pious accounts of her birth. It was not until the seventeenth century that the Nativity of Mary was included in the Latin Sacramentary. The feast is a reminder that the action and plan of God are at work in ways beyond our ken. Just as God had prepared Mary to be the mother of Jesus from the first moment of her life, so God is preparing us for our entry into divine life by the many graces showered upon us every day.
