THE NATIVITY OF OUR LADY
2. The attitude of the Church.
The Church does not celebrate birthdays as does the world. Instead, She rejoice just when the world puts on garments of mourning. If you read the Martyrology, you will see how the Church commemorates the day of death and considers such a day as dies natalis, the birthday for heaven. The Church generally appoints the very day of the death of the saint as his feast day, ignoring the day on which he was born into this world. The principles, then, are diametrically opposed. the world looks at things with earthly eyes, rejoicing at the beginnings of earthly life. The Church looks forward to the heavenly life and cares not for the earthly birthday but only for birth to Heaven. Who is right? Naturally, the point of view of our holy Mother the Church is the true one. The day on which we are born marks the beginning of a trail of sorrow.
We are born with the sentence of death and suffering on our heads. The day of our death marks the beginning of the true life which will know neither death, nor end, nor pain, nor sorrow, but only a happy and hallowed eternity. This then is our real life; and only our birth to this eternal life if worthy of celebration.
[From 'Marian Meditation' Book]
The Church does not celebrate birthdays as does the world. Instead, She rejoice just when the world puts on garments of mourning. If you read the Martyrology, you will see how the Church commemorates the day of death and considers such a day as dies natalis, the birthday for heaven. The Church generally appoints the very day of the death of the saint as his feast day, ignoring the day on which he was born into this world. The principles, then, are diametrically opposed. the world looks at things with earthly eyes, rejoicing at the beginnings of earthly life. The Church looks forward to the heavenly life and cares not for the earthly birthday but only for birth to Heaven. Who is right? Naturally, the point of view of our holy Mother the Church is the true one. The day on which we are born marks the beginning of a trail of sorrow.
We are born with the sentence of death and suffering on our heads. The day of our death marks the beginning of the true life which will know neither death, nor end, nor pain, nor sorrow, but only a happy and hallowed eternity. This then is our real life; and only our birth to this eternal life if worthy of celebration.
[From 'Marian Meditation' Book]
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