Each September 8the Church celebrates the Nativity of the Virgin MaryThe feast that commemorates the birth of the Mother of God. The celebration is closely linked to the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (December 8), for nine months later the Church contemplates the gift of his birth.

Mary's birth is seen as the beginning of the fulfillment of the divine promises: she is the woman chosen to be the Mother of the Savior.

Many centuries had passed since God, on the threshold of Paradise, promised our first parents the coming of the Messiah. Hundreds of years in which the hope of the people of Israel, depositary of the divine promise, was centered on a maiden, of the lineage of David, that shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel, which means God with us. (Is 7, 14). Generation after generation, the pious Israelites awaited the birth of the Mother of the Messiah, the one who is to give birth, as Micah explained against the backdrop of Isaiah's prophecy (cf. My 5, 2).

The birth of Mary, announcement of Salvation

Several Popes have described this feast as the dawn announcing the arrival of the Sun of righteousness: Jesus Christ.. At words of St. John Paul IIThe birth of the Virgin Mary is a luminous sign that prepares for the Incarnation of the Son of God.

The liturgy calls her "the root of our joy" because in Mary the plan of salvation begins to become visible. The prophet Micah, quoted on this feast, announces that the Savior will be born in Bethlehem and that he himself will be peace. Mary, daughter of Israel and mother of the Messiah, is the bridge between the promise and its fulfillment.

Mary, sign of peace and hope

Pope Francis recalled that this feast also speaks of peace. In the readings of the day, the word peace resounds three times, because the arrival of Mary prepares the heart of humanity to receive Christ, the Prince of Peace.

To celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary is to recognize her as star of hope. She enlightens the Church and every Christian, inviting us to live open to God, as she did, and to let Christ transform our lives.

Mary model of holiness

The Nativity of the Virgin Mary is not only a historical memory, but a feast that encourages us to look at life with faith: Mary is a model of holiness and spiritual beauty.the perfect creature that God prepared for his Son.

Its birth marks the beginning of salvationShe is the link between the promises of the Old Testament and their fulfillment in Christ. For the faithful, her feast is an occasion to renew their trust in God and to ask for the grace to live with the same docility and faith that Our Lady had.

When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Gal 4, 4-5). God is careful to choose his Daughter, Spouse and Mother. And the holy Virgin, the very high Lady, God's most beloved creature, conceived without original sin, came to our earth. She was born in the midst of a profound silence. They say that in autumn, when the fields sleep. None of his contemporaries realized what was happening. Only the angels in heaven made merry.

Of the two genealogies of Christ that appear in the Gospels, the one recorded by St. Luke is most probably that of Mary. We know that she was of noble lineage, a descendant of David, as the prophet had pointed out when speaking of the Messiah.a shoot shall come forth from the stock of Jesse, and from its roots shall blossom a scion (Is 11, 1)-and as St. Paul confirms when he writes to the Romans about Jesus Christ, born of the seed of David after the flesh (Rm 1, 3).

An apocryphal writing from the second century, known as the Protoevangelium of Santiago, has transmitted to us the names of her parents - Joachim and Anna - which the Church inscribed in the liturgical calendar. Various traditions place the place of Mary's birth in Galilee or, more probably, in the holy city of Jerusalem, where the ruins of a 5th century Byzantine basilica have been found, built over the so-called "holy city of Jerusalem". Santa Ana housevery close to the Probationary pool. No wonder the liturgy puts on Mary's lips some phrases from the Old Testament: I have settled in Zion. In the beloved city he has given me rest, and in Jerusalem is my dominion. (Sir 24, 15).

Gospel reading of the day

✠ A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew1:1-16. 18-23

Book of the origin of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham.

Abraham begat Isaac, Isaac begat Jacob, Jacob begat Judah and his brothers. Judah begat, of Tamar, Pharez and Zarah, Pharez begat Eshron, Eshron begat Aran, Aran begat Amminadab, Amminadab begat Nahshon, Nahshon begat Salmon, Salmon begat, of Rachab begat Boaz, Boaz begat, of Ruth, Obed, Obed begat Jesse, Jesse begat David the king.

David by Uriah's wife begat Solomon, Solomon begat Rehoboam, Rehoboam begat Abijah, Abijah begat Asaph, Asaph begat Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begat Jehoran, And Joran begat Uzziah, and Uzziah begat Johanan, and Johanan begat Ahaz, and Ahaz begat Hezekiah, and Hezekiah begat Manasseh, and Manasseh begat Amos, and Amos begat Josiah; Josiah begat Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the Babylonian exile.

After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah begat Shealtiel, Shealtiel begat Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel begat Abiud, Abiud begat Eliakim, Eliakim begat Azor, Azor begat Zadok, Zadok begat Zadok, Zadok begat Aquinas, Aquinas begat Eliud, Eliud begat Eleazar, Eleazar begat Mattan, Mattan begat Jacob; And Jacob begat Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

The generation of Jesus Christ was like this: Mary, his mother, was betrothed to Joseph and, before they lived together, it turned out that she was expecting a son by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Joseph, her husband, being just and not wanting to defame her, decided to divorce her privately. But, no sooner had he taken this resolution, than an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said:
"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife, for the child in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

All this happened to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophet:
"Behold: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which means "God-with-us"."

Bibliography

Opusdei.org. Life of Mary.

General Audience with Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter's Square, September 3, 2025.

Dear brothers and sisters:

At the heart of the passion story, at the brightest and at the same time darkest moment of the life of Jesus ChristJohn's Gospel gives us two words that contain an immense mystery: "I thirst" (19:28), and immediately afterwards: "All things are accomplished" (19:30). These last words, but loaded with a whole life, reveal the meaning of the entire existence of the Son of God. On the cross, Jesus does not appear as a victorious hero, but as a beggar of love. He does not proclaim, he does not condemn, he does not defend himself. He humbly asks for what he cannot give himself in any way.

Jesus Christ crucified, full expression of Love

The thirst of the Crucified is not only the physiological need of a broken body. It is also, and above all, the expression of a profound desire: that of love, of relationship, of communion. It is the silent cry of a God who, having wanted to share everything of our human condition, also allows himself to be pierced by this thirst. A God who is not ashamed to beg for a sip, because in this gesture he tells us that love, to be true, must also learn to ask and not only to give.

"I thirst," Jesus says, and in this way he manifests his humanity and ours as well. None of us can be enough for ourselves. No one can save himself. Life is "fulfilled" not when we are strong, but when we learn to receive. And precisely at that moment, after having received from the hands of others a sponge soaked in vinegar, Jesus proclaims: "All is fulfilled". Love has made itself needy, and precisely because of this it has carried out its work.

This is the Christian paradox: God saves not by doing, but by allowing himself to be done. Not by overcoming evil with force, but by accepting to the end the weakness of love. On the cross, Jesus teaches us that the human being is not fulfilled in power, but in trusting openness to others, even when they are hostile and enemies. Salvation does not lie in autonomy, but in humbly recognizing one's own need and knowing how to express it freely.

The fulfillment of our humanity in God's design is not an act of force, but a gesture of trust. Jesus does not save with a coup d'effect, but by asking for something that alone cannot be given. And here opens a door to true hope: if even the Son of God has chosen not to be sufficient for himself, then his thirst - for love, for meaning, for justice - is not a sign of failure, but of truth.

Letting ourselves be loved by Jesus Christ

This truth, apparently so simple, is difficult to accept. We live in an age that rewards self-sufficiency, efficiency and performance. However, the Gospel shows us that the measure of our humanity is not what we can conquer, but our capacity to let ourselves be loved and, when necessary, to help.

Jesus saves us by showing us that asking is not unworthy, but liberating. It is the way out of the concealment of sin, to return to the space of communion. From the beginning, sin has generated shame. But forgiveness, the true forgiveness, is born when we can look our need in the face and no longer fear being rejected.

The thirst of Jesus on the cross is then also our thirst. It is the cry of wounded humanity that continues to seek living water. And this thirst does not distance us from God, but unites us to him. If we have the courage to recognize it, we can discover that our fragility is also a bridge to heaven. Precisely in asking - not in possessing - a path of freedom opens up, because we stop pretending to be enough for ourselves.

In fraternity, in the simple life, in the art of asking without shame and offering without calculation, is hidden a joy that the world does not know. A joy that brings us back to the original truth of our being: we are creatures made to give and receive love.

Dear brothers and sisters, in the thirst for Christ we can recognize all our thirst. And learn that there is nothing more human, nothing more divine, than to know how to say: I need. Let us not be afraid to ask, especially when it seems to us that we do not deserve it. Let us not be ashamed to reach out. It is precisely there, in that humble gesture, where salvation is hidden.

Pope Leo's final appeal

Dramatic news is coming from Sudan, particularly from Darfur. In El Fasher, many civilians are trapped in the city, victims of shortages and violence. In Tarasin, a devastating landslide has caused numerous deaths, leaving behind pain and despair. And, as if that were not enough, the spread of cholera threatens hundreds of thousands of already exhausted people. I am closer than ever to the Sudanese people, particularly families, children and displaced persons.

I pray for all the victims. I sincerely appeal to those responsible and to the international community to ensure humanitarian corridors and to launch a coordinated response to stop this humanitarian catastrophe. It is time to initiate a serious, sincere and inclusive dialogue between the parties to end the conflict and restore hope, dignity and peace to the people of Sudan.

St. Gregory the Great was a reformer of the liturgy, promoter of Gregorian chant, defender of the poor and promoter of evangelization, his pontificate marked a before and after in history. His life reminds us that true greatness lies in serving God and others with generous love.

Throughout its history, the Catholic Church has had extraordinary figures who, in moments of crisis and darkness, have known how to guide the Christian people with wisdom, humility and fortitude. One of these providential men was St. Gregory the Great (540-604), Pope between 590 and 604, considered one of the four great Fathers of the Latin Church. His pontificate left an indelible mark on the liturgy, the evangelizing mission and the organization of the Church.

St. Gregory is remembered as "the pope who ruled with a monk's heart".because, in spite of assuming the weight of the headquarters of Rome in a turbulent time, he always maintained the spirit of service and humility that he had cultivated in his monastic life.

His figure continues to be a current example for pastors and faithful, because he knew how to combine firmness of government with a deep interior life, personal austerity with great generosity towards the poor, and tradition with openness to the needs of his time.

In this blog story we will delve into his life, his historical context, his main works and why the Church venerates him as a saint and Doctor of the Church.

Historical context: a Rome in ruins

St. Gregory was born in Rome around 540, into an aristocratic family of ancient senatorial tradition. The city where he was born was far from its former imperial splendor: after the fall of the Western Roman Empire (476), Rome had been reduced to a decadent place, stricken by wars, epidemics and poverty.

The western world was fragmented and under pressure from peoples, such as the Lombards, who had invaded Italy and constantly threatened the city of Rome. The political authority was weak and the only stable reference point for the people was the Church and the Pope.

This context of crisis was decisive in understanding the figure of Gregory: a man who, without seeking it, had to assume the burden of guiding not only the spiritual life, but also the material survival of an entire people.

From prefect of Rome to Benedictine monk

Gregorio received a refined education befitting his social rank. He was trained in Law, Literature and Administration, which allowed him to occupy positions of great responsibility. Around the year 572 he became prefect of RomeThe city's highest civil authority.

However, after the death of his father, Gregory decided to make a radical change in his life. He sold much of his possessions to help the poor and transformed his house on Mount Celio into a Benedictine monastery. He himself retired there as a monk, leading a life of prayer, study and austerity.

His monastic vocation was always the center of his identity, and although obedience later led him to leave this contemplative life, Gregory never ceased to consider himself a simple "servant of the servants of God," a title he introduced and which is still used today by the Popes as a sign of humility.

The Pope who did not want to be Pope

In the year 590, after the death of Pope Pelagius II, Gregory was elected as successor of St. Peter. The choice was not easy: Gregory tried to resist, even asking the emperor not to confirm his appointment, as he felt he was not prepared for the enormous burden. However, the Roman people acclaimed him and he finally accepted the Petrine ministry.

His pontificate began in the midst of a terrible plague that was ravaging Rome. Tradition has it that he organized penitential processions and processions of supplication to the Virgin, in which, on arriving at Hadrian's mausoleum, he had a vision of the archangel Michael sheathing his sword, a sign that the plague was coming to an end. From then on, that place was called Castel Sant'Angelo.

A pastor and reformer Pope

St. Gregory ruled the Church for 14 years, until his death in 604. His work can be summarized as:

1. Liturgical Reform and Gregorian chant

One of the best known legacies of Gregory the Great is the consolidation of the Roman liturgy. He gave unity to the rites, promoted clarity in the prayers and set norms for the celebration of Mass and chant in the liturgy.

Although he did not invent Gregorian chant, he did promote and organize it, so that the musical tradition of the Western Church was linked to his name. Gregorian chant became a universal expression of prayer and beauty that is still alive today in monasteries and temples around the world.

2. The evangelizing mission

Gregory understood that the Gospel had to reach all peoples. He sent missionaries from Rome, the most famous case being that of saint Augustine of Canterburywho brought the Christian faith to the Anglo-Saxon peoples in England. Thanks to this initiative, the English Church became in a few centuries a focus of evangelization for the whole of Europe.

With this missionary impulse, Gregory reinforced the universality of the Church and laid the foundations for the Christianization of medieval Europe.

3. Charity as the axis of his pontificate

If anything characterized Gregory, it was his closeness to the poorest. The Roman Church, under his government, became the main institution of assistance to the needy. He organized a system of distribution of food and aid, administering with great rigor the ecclesiastical goods to put them at the service of the people.

His example of personal austerity was clear: while he ruled firmly, he lived simply, aware that his mission was to serve.

4. Writings and spiritual doctrine

St. Gregory was a prolific and clear writer. His works were widely disseminated and marked the spirituality of the Middle Ages. Among them are:

The Pastoral Rule: a manual for bishops and pastors on how to exercise their ministry with humility and zeal. It was so influential that Charlemagne had it distributed to all the bishops of his empire.

Dialogues: where he narrates the lives of Italian saints, especially St. Benedict of Nursia, whose spirituality he deeply admired.

Homilies on Ezekiel and on the Gospels: with clear and practical teachings for the Christian life.

His theology, more pastoral than speculative, stood out for its ability to unite doctrine with life, wisdom with closeness.

5. Government and diplomacy

Gregory was not only a spiritual leader, he also had to serve as an administrator and diplomat in a devastated Italy. He negotiated directly with the Lombards, reaching peace agreements that saved lives and protected the city of Rome.

He also strengthened the organization of the Church, sending letters and directives to bishops all over the world. We have preserved more than 800 of his letters, which allow us to see his enormous activity and pastoral care.

Holiness and legacy

St. Gregory died on March 12, 604, exhausted by illness and incessant work. He was buried in St. Peter's Basilica, where his tomb is still venerated.

The people proclaimed him a saint almost immediately. His reputation for holiness was due to his austere life, his love for the poor, his fidelity to prayer and his zeal for the Church. In 1295, Pope Boniface VIII declared him a saint. Doctor of the Churchrecognizing the depth of his spiritual teaching.

Today he is remembered as St. Gregory the GreatThe title he shares with only a few Popes in history, such as St. Leo the Great.

Why is St. Gregory the Great still relevant today?

Although more than 1,400 years have passed since his death, the figure of St. Gregory is still very relevant for the Church and for the world:

• Humility in leadershipIn a society that often confuses authority with power, his example reminds us that to govern is to serve.
• Effective charityHe showed that faith cannot be separated from caring for the needy.
• Liturgical unityThe Church's liturgical impulse remains a pillar of the Church's life.
• Missionary impulseHis openness to send evangelizers inspires the new evangelization today.
• Practical SpiritualityHis writings continue to be a guide for bishops, priests and committed lay people.

Exceptional in times of crisis

St. Gregory the Great was an exceptional Pope who knew how to lead the Church in times of crisis, not from power, but from humility and service. His life demonstrates that holiness does not consist in doing extraordinary things, but in living with fidelity and dedication the responsibilities that God places in our hands on a daily basis.

The Church venerates him as a saint and doctor because he united the prayer of the monk, the wisdom of the teacher and the fortitude of the pastor. His example continues to inspire Christians today to be light in the midst of darkness, humble servants of others and faithful messengers of the Gospel.

As he wrote in his Pastoral Rule: "He who has been placed as pastor must be, above all, an example of life, so that his very conduct may be a point of reference for others."

St. Gregory the Great teaches us that true greatness is in the magna caritasin the great and generous love that gives itself without measure.

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