Feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God

   

image source: http://catholicism.about.com/od/catholicliving/ig/Wordless-Wednesday-Gallery/Nativity-of-the-Mother-of-God.htm

Joyous Feast!

Today is one of the feasts that the Latin Rite Catholics, Eastern Rite Catholics, and Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate in common. It is the day we celebrate the birth of Mary, the Mother of God, to Sts. Joachim and Anna. The icon and the prayers of the feast  teach the mystery.

Thy nativity, O Virgin,
has proclaimed joy to the whole universe!
The Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God,
has shone on thee, O Theotokos!
By annulling the curse,
He bestowed a blessing.
By destroying death,
He has granted us Eternal Life.

By thy nativity, O Most-Pure Virgin, Joachim and Anna are freed from barrenness, and Adam and Eve, from the corruption of death. And we, Thy people, freed from the guilt of sin, celebrate and sing to Thee: The barren woman gives birth to the Theotokos, the Nourisher of our life.

 

Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nativity_of_Theotokos.jpg

The VanderWoude family is and forever will be in our prayers especially this day.