This is one of the most ancient Marian feasts. It is thought that this feast originated in connection with the Feast of the dedication of a church dedicated to Mary, now the Church of St Ann, in Jerusalem in the 6th century. Tradition holds that this is where the house of Mary’s parents, Joachim and Ann, stood and where she would have been born.  What began as a local Jerusalem celebration began to be celebrated in Rome in the 8th century. The traditional date of the celebration is chosen to follow 9 months after the celebration of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th. It is noteworthy that the tradition of the Church is to celebrate the life of a Saint on the anniversary of their death. However, in the case of Mary and John the Baptist, the celebration is on their day of birth, recognizing the special grant of holiness that was theirs from the beginning. Continue reading →