https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-vPv6kmPdI
The Story of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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.
Scripture does not give an account of Mary’s birth. However, the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James fills in the gap. This work has no historical value, but it does reflect the development of Christian piety. According to this account, Anna and Joachim are infertile but pray for a child. They receive the promise of a child who will advance God’s plan of salvation for the world. Such a story, like many biblical counterparts, stresses the special presence of God in Mary’s life from the beginning.
Saint Augustine connects Mary’s birth with Jesus’ saving work. He tells the earth to rejoice and shine forth in the light of her birth. “She is the flower of the field from whom bloomed the precious lily of the valley. Through her birth the nature inherited from our first parents is changed.” The opening prayer at Mass speaks of the birth of Mary’s Son as the dawn of our salvation, and asks for an increase of peace.
From CatholicCuisine:
http://catholiccuisine.blogspot.com/2009/09/birthday-cake-for-our-lady.html
A Birthday Cake for Our Lady!
Each year, on the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, our family makes a cake to celebrate. Last year we made a Blueberry Cheesecake and this year we opted for a Lemon Blueberry Cake. Although the type of cake varies from year to year, I usually make sure the cake itself is white, symbolizing Mary's purity, and then we add blueberries to symbolize her blue mantle.
We top the cake with a small statue
of Mary and surrounded it with a circle of 10 candles, representing one decade of the rosary. The children then take turns lighting the candles as the whole family prays a "Hail Mary" for each candle. Afterwards we sing Happy Birthday and let the children blow out the candles!!! My children look forward to this tradition every year!
Lemon Blueberry Cake
adapted from the Food Network
Ingredients:
- 2 (8-inch) round white cakes (I made mine using a boxed white cake mix)
- 1/3 cup frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
- 2 teaspoons lemon extract, divided
- 2 (12-ounce) cans cream cheese frosting
- Fresh blueberries (I used frozen since I had some in the freezer.)
- Fresh mint sprigs and Lemon slices, quartered (optional)
Directions:
Use a knife to slice cake layers in half horizontally. Use a pastry brush to brush each layer with lemonade concentrate; set aside.
Stir 1 teaspoon of lemon extract into each can of frosting; set aside.
To assemble cake: frost and stack the cake layers on top of each other.
Decorate the cake with blueberries. You can then add the optional clusters of mint sprigs and quartered lemon slices for further decoration if you'd like.
Use a knife to slice cake layers in half horizontally. Use a pastry brush to brush each layer with lemonade concentrate; set aside.
Stir 1 teaspoon of lemon extract into each can of frosting; set aside.
To assemble cake: frost and stack the cake layers on top of each other.
Decorate the cake with blueberries. You can then add the optional clusters of mint sprigs and quartered lemon slices for further decoration if you'd like.
Happy Birthday Dear Blessed Mother!
