This feast commemorates the dignity of the Mary as Mother of God (Theotokos), the title of Mary ratified by the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD. The feast was first granted to the dioceses of Portugal and to Brasil and Algeria in 1751. In 1752 it was granted to the province of Venice, in 1778 to the kingdom of Naples and in 1807 to Tuscany.
Eighth Lesson from the Roman Breviary:
Marvel at both these things, and choose whether to marvel most at the sublime condescension of the Son, or at the sublime dignity of Mary. Either is amazing, either marvellous. That God should obey this woman, is a lowliness without parallel; that this woman should rule over God, an exaltation without match. In praise of virgins, and of virgins only, is it sung that “These are they which follow the Lamb wherever He goes” (Apocalypse xiv. 4). Of what praise then think you that she must be worthy who even leads the Lamb. “O man, learn to obey. O earth, learn to submit. O dust, learn to keep down. It is of your Maker that the Evangelist said: ‘And He was subject to them.’ Blush, O proud ashes! God humbles Himself; and you exalt yourself? God is subject to men; and will you, by striving to rule over men, set yourself before your Maker?
O happy Mary, lowly and virgin; and wondrous virginity, which motherhood destroyed not, but exalted; and wondrous lowliness, which the fruitful virginity took not away, but ennobled; and wondrous motherhood, which was both virgin and lowly. Which of them is not wondrous? which of them is not unexampled, and which of them does not stand alone? The wonder would be if you were not puzzled at which to wonder most — motherhood in a virgin, or virginity in a mother; a motherhood so exalted, or lowliness in such exaltation. But indeed more marvellous than any one of these things is the combination of them all, and without all comparison, it is more excellent and more blessed to have received them all, than to have received any one of them alone. What wonder is it that God, of Whom we see and read, that “He is wonderful in His holy places” (Psalm lxvii. 36), should have shown Himself wonderful in His Mother? O you that be married, honour this incorruption in corruptible flesh; O, holy maidens, gaze in wonder at motherhood in a maid; O, all mankind, take pattern by the lowliness of the Mother of God.
O God, who willed that your Word should take flesh at the message of an angel in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grant to us, we beseech you, that we who believe her to be indeed the Mother of God may be aided by her intercession with you. Through the same our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
At Tarsus in Cilicia, the birthday of the holy martyrs Tharacus, Probus and Andronicus, who endured a long and painful imprisonment, during the persecution of Diocletian, and being three times subjected to diverse punishments and tortures, finally obtained a glorious triumph for the confession of Christ by having their heads struck off.
In Vexin, in the time of the governor Fescenninus, the passion of the holy martyrs Nicasiuc, bishop of
Rouen, Quirinus, priest, Scubiculus, deacon, and Pientia, virgin.
Also the martyrdom of the Saints Anastasius, priest, Placidus, Genesius, and their companions.
In Thebais, St. Sarmata, a disciple of the blessed abbot Anthony, who was put to death for Christ by the Saracens.
At Besançon in France, St. Germanus, bishop and martyr.
At Uzes in Narbonese Gaul, St. Firminus, bishop and confessor.
In Ireland, St. Kenny, abbot.
At Lier in Belgium, the departure from this life of St. Gummarus, confessor.
At Eennes, St. Æmilian, confessor.
At Tarsus in Cilicia, the holy women Zenaides and Philonilla, sisters, who were relatives of the blessed Apostle St. Paul, and his disciples in the faith.
At Verona, St. Placidia, virgin.
At Calotium, a place now in the diocese of Asti, but formerly in that of Pavia, St. Alexander Sauli, bishop and confessor, of the congregation of Barnabites, a man illustrious by birth, learning and miracles.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
