8th September

Liturgically, the Church celebrates only two birthdays other than the nativity of Jesus; John the Baptist (June 24) and Mary (Sep 8). Both of these feasts acknowledge their significant role in salvation history.

The Feast of the Nativity of Mary can be traced to the consecration of St Anne's Basilica (early 6th century), which was built in an area known as "shepherd's field" and which was believed to have once been the location of the home of St Joachim and St Anne (Mary's parents). Throughout the centuries this feast was celebrated on different days, however with the declaration of the Immaculate Conception (Dec 8) in 1854 the Church assigned September 8 as a universal feast to mark the birth of Our Lady.

Throughout the centuries Mary's life has been celebrated in Art. Samples of this art are provided in the accompanying PowerPoint.