The Feast of 8th September (Our Lady's Birthday) originated in Jerusalem. In the 7th century, in the Byzantine Rite and at Rome, the Birth of the Blessed Virgin was celebrated this day.
A bit of background from: http://www.goarch.org/en/special/listen_learn_share/vmnativity/learn/
The Feast of the Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated on September 8 each year. The Feast commemorates the birth of the Mother of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
The birth and early life of the Virgin Mary is not recorded in the Gospels or other books of the New Testament, however this information can be found in a work dating from the second century known as the Book of James or Protevangelion.
According to the story found in this book, Mary's parents, Joachim and Anna, were childless for many years. They remained faithful to God, but their prayers for a child were unanswered. One day, when Joachim came to the temple to make an offering, he was turned away by the High Priest who chastised him for his lack of children. To hide his shame, Joachim retreated to the hill country to live among the shepherds and their flocks.
As Joachim was praying, his wife Anna was praying at the same time at their house in Jerusalem. An angel appeared to both of them and announced that Anna would have a child whose name would be known throughout the world. Anna promised to offer her child as a gift to the Lord. Joachim returned home, and in due time Anna bore a daughter, Mary.
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The most common prayer to Our Lady is the Hail Mary (Ave Maria)
"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. "
Latin original
"Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen."
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http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/litany09.htm
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us. God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us. Holy Mary, pray for us. Holy Mother of God, pray for us. Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us. Mother of Christ, pray for us. Mother of divine grace, pray for us. Mother most pure, pray for us. Mother most chaste, pray for us. Mother inviolate, pray for us. Mother undefiled, pray for us. Mother most amiable, pray for us. Mother most admirable, pray for us. Mother of good counsel, pray for us. Mother of our Creator, pray for us. Mother of our Savior, pray for us. Virgin most prudent, pray for us. Virgin most venerable, pray for us. Virgin most renowned, pray for us. Virgin most powerful, pray for us. Virgin most merciful, pray for us. Virgin most faithful, pray for us. Mirror of justice, pray for us. Seat of wisdom, pray for us. Cause of our joy, pray for us. Spiritual vessel, pray for us. Vessel of honor, pray for us. Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us. Mystical rose, pray for us. Tower of David, pray for us. Tower of ivory, pray for us. House of gold, pray for us. Ark of the Covenant, pray for us. Gate of Heaven, pray for us. Morning star, pray for us. Health of the sick, pray for us. Refuge of sinners, pray for us. Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us. Help of Christians, pray for us. Queen of angels, pray for us. Queen of patriarchs, pray for us. Queen of prophets, pray for us. Queen of apostles, pray for us. Queen of martyrs, pray for us. Queen of confessors, pray for us. Queen of virgins, pray for us. Queen of all saints, pray for us. Queen conceived without Original Sin, pray for us. Queen assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us. Queen of peace, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we Thy Servants may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, be delivered from present sorrow and unjoy enternal happiness. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Approved by Pope Sixtus V in 1587
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Below is a comprehensive list of Feasts of The Blessed Virgin Mary
Memorial 1 January - Mary, Mother of God 21 January - Our Lady of Altagracia 23 January - Espousal of the Virgin Mary 24 January - Madonna del Pianto (Our Lady of Tears) 2 February - Purification of Mary 11 February - Our Lady of Lourdes 25 March - Annunciation by Saint Gabriel 25 April - Our Lady of Good Counsel (at Genazzano) 26 April - Our Lady of Good Counsel (elsewhere) 13 May - Our Lady of Fatima 13 May - Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament 24 May - Mary, Help of Christians 31 May - Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces 31 May - Visitation 9 June - Mary, Virgin Mother of Grace 27 June - Our Lady of Perpetual Help 2 July - Visitation by Mary to Saint Elizabeth 16 July - Our Lady of Mount Carmel 17 July - Humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2 August - Our Lady of the Angels 5 August - Our Lady of the Snow 5 August - Our Lady of Copacabana 13 August - Our Lady, Refuge of Sinners 15 August - Assumption into Heaven 21 August - Our Lady of Knock 22 August - Immaculate Heart of Mary 22 August - Queenship of Mary 8 September - Nativity of Mary 8 September - Our Lady of Charity 12 September - Most Holy Name of Mary 15 September - Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows 24 September - Our Lady of Mercy 24 September - Our Lady of Walsingham 1 October - Holy Protection of the Mother of God 7 October - Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary 11 October - Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary 16 October - Purity of the Blessed Virgin Mary 21 November - Presentation of Mary at the Temple 8 December - Mary's Immaculate Conception 12 December - Our Lady of Guadalupe 18 December - Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Moveable Feasts
Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles - Saturday after Ascension
Our Lady, Health of the Sick - Saturday before the last Sunday in August
Our Lady of Consolation - Saturday after the Feast of Saint Augustine (28 August)
Mary, Mother of Divine Providence - Saturday before 3rd Sunday of November
333 titles for the Blessed Virgin Mary are listed at: http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/mary0000.htm
More information about Our Lady and prayers of Intercession available at: http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintbvm.htm
An 'online' Rosary is available at http://rosary.virtualave.net/
A 'virtual' Rosary is available at: http://www.virtualrosary.org/
Downloadable Wallpapers for your PC/Mac in different resolutions: http://www.immaculateheart.com/wallpaper.htm
Beautiful classic thumbnails of pictures of the Virgin Mary at: http://www.immaculateheart.com/thumbnails.htm
For articles designed to answer objections to Catholic doctrines and practices relating to the Mother of Jesus Christ our God, check out:
http://members.tripod.com/~maryimmaculate/marian.html
Most of the questions address Protestant/Evangelical objections to Catholic Marian teachings, but a few address other groups.
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Often we use the phrase, "Knock on wood" - and proceed to do just that: knock on a table or a door or whatever wood is handy. Most do not know that the origin of the phrase and practice comes from the rosary. Rosaries in the old days were made of oak wood and were fingered in time of distress or trouble. Thus, holding on to or rubbing the wooden rosary or its wooden crucifix when danger was near became a common way for Christians to deal with hardships and difficulties. The practice slipped into common use as "Knock on wood."
http://www.rosaryworkshop.com/HistoriesIndex.htm
==== Compiled by Cecil Pinto Goan Trivia Service ====
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