Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Sept 8th

(Picture – Sts. Joachim and Anne with Mary as a child)

The Church has celebrated Mary’s birth since at least the sixth century. A September birth was chosen because the Eastern Church begins its Church year with September. The September 8 date helped determine the date for the feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 (nine months earlier).

1244: Pope Innocent III honors the feast of the Nativity of Mary with an octave day

1372: Pope Gregory XI institutes a vigil for the feast of the Nativity of Mary.