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If you were given the chance to create your own mother, you would make her the most beautiful woman on the planet, admired by all. You would create her to live forever. God did just this with his mother, whose birthday we celebrate today. He kept her immaculate and made her “blessed by all generations”. Today’s Gospel is an account of Jesus’ birth and not Mary’s which is right, for we celebrate Mary’s birth because she gave birth to Jesus. She became the savior’s mother and offered him to us. She would have been glad to make her own the words of John the Baptist concerning himself: ‘He, Jesus, must increase, but I must decrease.’ The best way to venerate her is to receive Jesus whom she offered us, so that we ‘hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance’.

Watch, dear Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and let your angels protect those who sleep. Tend the sick. Refresh the weary. Sustain the dying. Calm the suffering. Pity the distressed. We ask this for the sake of your love. Lord Jesus, our Saviour, let us come to you. Our hearts are cold; Lord, warm them with selfless love. Our hearts are sinful; cleanse them with your precious blood. Our hearts are empty; fill them with your divine presence, Lord Jesus, our hearts are yours; possess them always and only for yourself.

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