Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

From Abbot Gueranger's The Liturgical Year: "'Let us celebrate the Nativity of the Virgin Mary; let us adore her Son, Christ our Lord.' Such is the invitation addressed to us today by the Church. Let us hearken to her call; let us enter into her ever-flowing joy. The Bridegroom is at hand, for His throne is now set up on earth... "Andrew of Crete calls this day a solemnity of entrance, a feast of beginning, whose end is the union of the Word with our flesh; a virginal feast, full of joy and confidence for all. 'All ye nations, come hither,' cries St John Damascene; 'come every race and tongue, every age and dignity, let us joyfully celebrate the birthday of the world's gladness.' 'It is the beginning of salvation, the origin of every feast,' says St Peter Damian; 'for behold! the Mother of the Bridegroom is born. With good reason does the whole world rejoice today; and the Church, beside herself, bids her choirs sing wedding songs.' "Not only do the Doctors of the east and west use similar language in praise of Mary's birth, but moreover the Latin and Greek Churches sing, each in its own tongue, the same beautiful formula, to close the office of the feast: "'Thy birth, O Virgin Mother of God, brought joy to the whole world: for out of thee arose the Sun of justice, Christ our God: who, taking off the curse, hath bestowed blessing; and defeating death, hath given us life everlasting.'"