09/08/2026
It's September 8, the Feast day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which means today is Mary's birthday.
So what do we know about Mary's birth and the family she was born into?
When you hear the word "nativity," perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is a stable filled with barn animals and Mary and Joseph kneeling by Baby Jesus. And while this Christmas imagery makes sense, the word nativity actually doesn't mean barn or stable. Rather, it's a word that comes from the Latin verb "nasci," which means "to be born," which is why today's Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is Mary's birthday.
The actual birthday of Mary is not definitively known. However, it is generally believed that in the 7th century, members of the Church of Constantinople began celebrating Mary's birthday on September 8 because at the time, the civil New Year in the East began on September 1.
Where was Mary born? While we don't have a birth certificate declaring what hospital Mary was born in, there are three traditional locations that have been considered for places of Mary's birth. Number one, Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. Number two, Sepphoris, which is about three miles north of Bethlehem. And number three, near the Sheep Gate and the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem, which is the most likely location according to scholars.
The Pool of Bethesda might sound familiar, and that's because in the Gospel of John Chapter 5, John recounts the story of a man who camps by the pool in hopes of receiving a cure from its healing waters. However, he has no one to lower him into the waters, so he's been waiting by the pool for a long time until Jesus shows up. And when Jesus shows up, He cures him, telling him, "Rise, take up your mat, and walk."
If you're ever in Jerusalem, the Lion's Gate - also called the Saint Stephen's Gate and traditionally identified with the ancient Sheep's Gate - still stands. Just inside the gate are the ruins of the Pool of Bethesda and the Church of Saint Anne, which is built over the traditional site of the birthplace of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is the home of Mary's parents, Saints Joachim and Anne.
According to James' accounts, Saint Joachim and Anne were a devout but infertile couple who, through much prayer and mourning, were visited by angels who announced the forthcoming birth of their child who would, quote, "be spoken of throughout all the world." Nine months later, that child, Mary, was born.
And when she was born, Anne asked the midwife, "What have I brought forth?" To which the midwife replied, "A girl." And Anne responded, "My soul has been magnified this day," which echoes the Magnificat Mary herself would later sing.
If you want to celebrate Mary's birthday with a little extra flair, today would be a great day to bake a cake in her honor or write her a birthday card thanking her for being your Heavenly Mother.
Author: Lisa Cotter, Hallowed Be Thy Name
