Catholic Men’s Daily Devotional and Bible Study – The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary – September 8 – Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23

The Gospel reading from the Mass for the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23. 

The opening verses of the Gospel of Matthew describe the linage of Christ and the Annunciation, revealing the startling truth of God’s deliberate plan of salvation that sweeps across the entire history of mankind. The Apostle Matthew lists Mary in the genealogy to confirm the Blessed Mother’s virgin maternity of Jesus; while all those in the genealogy are identified as “father of”, Joseph is revealed to be “husband of” (not “father of”) Jesus; this confirms the virgin birth and Joseph’s legal, but not biological, fatherhood. 

Tradition holds that Mary’s parents were the elderly St. Joachim and St. Anne.  While they had wealth, like Abraham and Sarah, St. Joachim and St. Anne endured years of infertility until God granted them the blessing of the Immaculate Conception of Mary;  God miraculously intercedes to cause Mary to be born without Original Sin.  Tradition holds that the Virgin Mary was born in Jerusalem and was formally consecrated to God, taking a vow of virginity; the Church celebrates this blessed event with the Feast of the Presentation of Mary (November 21). 

Celebrated on September 8, nine months following the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (December 8), the Feast of the Nativity of Mary has been celebrated in the Church since at least the 6th Century.  The Blessed Mother’s birth and childhood continue to be venerated at the Church of St. Anne in Jerusalem, reputed to have been built on the site where Mary was born.   

Awed by Jesus Christ – Son of God, Christ from the beginning of time has caused the great and mysterious blessing of Salvation History to unfold, including the intervention of the miraculous Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Divine King, Christ’s linage traces to His people’s greatest king, King David.  

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1) While every man has an ancestral linage, be awed that Christ, the Son of God, actively directs His own linage, including the mind-boggling intervention to cause His mother to be immaculately conceived to an infertile elderly couple.

2) Because the Immaculate Conception was born without sin (CCC 490-493), the Blessed Virgin Mary is the only human who has ever perfectly heard and done the God’s will. Reflect on the perfection of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s Perfect Obedience (CCC 144, 148-149, 490, 494, 2617) and pray for the Blessed Virgin to pray for your continual conversion and for you grow in obedience.

3) In a decaying culture in which millions of men engage in sexual acts with women outside of marriage, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary reminds men of the inherent dignity of women and the call to chastity. Reflect upon the Dignity of Women (CCC 2334, 2353, 2390-2391, 2393) and ask Our Lady to pray that you might always be chivalrous and chaste.