Today, 8 September 2025, in a solemn celebration in the Basilica of Saint Anne, the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of our Lord, was commemorated. The celebration was presided over by Br. Stéphane Milovitch, in the presence of numerous consecrated persons, religious women, Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land. Also present was the Consul General of France in Jerusalem Nicolas Kassianides.
The community gathered to bring into its prayers joy, hope, but above all the sufferings and anguish of the peoples of the earth who live under the weight of conflicts and injustices. A particular thought was directed to the liberation of hostages, to the civilian populations victims of bombings and to those who suffer violence. The celebration invites us not to forget prayer for peace and serenity also in France, in a period of strong political and social disorder, remembering that the world created by God, because of human freedom, also knows disorder and division.
The birth of the Virgin Mary is seen as the dawn that announces the coming of the Redeemer. Today's liturgy uses the symbol of the dawn, with the birth of Mary prefiguring the rising of the Sun of justice, Christ the Lord. This day recalls that Mary, "clothed with the Sun", shines with beauty both of soul and body, her holiness and humility are models for all believers. The words of Saint Bernard and of the Liturgy of the Hours confirm her fullness of grace and her central role in the history of salvation.
The Church celebrates four major Marian dogmas distributed throughout the four seasons of the year:
"Today, a fifth solemnity is added, the birth of Mary, dawn that prefigures all the attributes of the Virgin. The community celebrates what it believes, truly believing in what it celebrates, recognizing in Mary the mother who gives us not only salvation, but the Savior himself" said Br. Stéphane in his homily.
The Eucharistic liturgy thus becomes an occasion of thanksgiving for the mystery of our salvation and for the irreplaceable role that Mary played in the divine plan. Today the basilica confirms itself as a place of memory, prayer and hope for the future of all humanity.
Francesco Guaraldi
