September 8: The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Collect of the Day

the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Father in heaven, by your grace the virgin mother of your incarnate Son was blessed in bearing him, but still more blessed in keeping your word: Grant us who honor the exaltation of her lowliness to follow the example of her devotion to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Father in heaven, by whose grace the virgin mother of thy incarnate Son was blessed in bearing him, but still more blessed in keeping thy word: Grant us who honor the exaltation of her lowliness to follow the example of her devotion to thy will; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Samuel 1:10–20
Psalm 27
Luke 1:26–38

The gospels tell us little about the family and home of our Lord’s mother. She is thought to have been of Davidic descent and to have been broughtup in a devout Jewish family that cherished the hope of Israel for the coming kingdom of God, in remembrance of the promise to Abraham and the forefathers.

In the second century, a devout Christian sought to supply a fuller account of Mary’s birth and family, to satisfy the interest and curiosity of believers. An apocryphal gospel, known as the Protevangelium of James or The Nativity of Mary, appeared. It included legendary stories of Mary’s parents Joachim and Anne. These stories were built out of Old Testament narratives of the births of Isaac and of Samuel (whose mother’s name, Hannah, is the original form of Anne), and from traditions of the birth of John the Baptist. In these stories, Joachim and Anne—the childless, elderly couple who grieved that they would have no posterity—were rewarded with the birth of a girl, whom they dedicated in infancy to the service of God under the tutelage of the temple priests.

Many provinces of the Anglican Communion celebrate September 8th rather than August 15th as their primary Marian feast.

Although we do not know the truth of Mary’s parentage or birth, we nevertheless rejoice for those who brought her into this world, and who raised her in such a way that even as a young woman she was able to give a courageous “yes” in response to her call from God.

Lessons and Psalm

First Lesson

Psalm

¹The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? *the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?

²When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, *it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who stumbled and fell.

³Though an army should encamp against me, *yet my heart shall not be afraid;

⁴And though war should rise up against me, *yet will I put my trust in him.

⁵One thing have I asked of the Lord; one thing I seek; *that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life;

⁶To behold the fair beauty of the Lord *and to seek him in his temple.

⁷For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe in his shelter; *he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling and set me high upon a rock.

⁸Even now he lifts up my head *above my enemies round about me.

⁹Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation with sounds of great gladness; *I will sing and make music to the Lord.

¹⁰Hearken to my voice, O Lord, when I call; *have mercy on me and answer me.

¹¹You speak in my heart and say, “Seek my face.” *Your face, Lord, will I seek.

¹²Hide not your face from me, *nor turn away your servant in displeasure.

¹³You have been my helper; cast me not away; *do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.

¹⁴Though my father and my mother forsake me, *the Lord will sustain me.

¹⁵Show me your way, O Lord; *lead me on a level path, because of my enemies.

¹⁶Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries, *for false witnesses have risen up against me, and also those who speak malice.

¹⁷What if I had not believed that I should see the goodness of the Lord *in the land of the living!

¹⁸O tarry and await the Lord’s pleasure; be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; *wait patiently for the Lord.

Gospel

¹⁰She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly. ¹¹She made this vow: “O Lord of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head.” ¹²As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. ¹³Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk. ¹⁴So Eli said to her, “How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine.” ¹⁵But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. ¹⁶Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time.” ¹⁷Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him.” ¹⁸And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your sight.” Then the woman went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and her countenance was sad no longer. ¹⁹They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. ²⁰In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I have asked him of the Lord.”