Ginbot 1 — May 09

The Birthday of Our Lady Mary (Lideta Maryam)

Today is a very happy day! It is the birthday of our holy Lady Mary, the mother of Jesus. In our language this joyful feast is called Lideta Maryam, which means "the Birth of Mary."

Long before Mary was born, her father Joachim and her mother Hanna loved God very much. But they were sad about one thing: they were growing old and had no children. In those days, people who had no children were not allowed to bring a special gift to God's house, and this made Joachim and Hanna very sorrowful.

One day Joachim climbed a mountain to pray. While he was praying, an angel of the Lord came to him, a shining messenger sent from heaven. The angel had news for him: God would give him and Hanna a child, and through that child the whole world would be saved. Joachim hurried back down the mountain and told Hanna. She gave thanks to God and believed every word.

Hanna was so thankful that she made a special promise to God. She promised that her child would belong to God and would serve in His holy house. A little while later, a baby girl was born, and her name was Maryam, which we say as Mary.

The name Mary means "Lady," and it also means "Gift and Grace." That is just right, because Mary truly is a gift from God and is full of God's kindness. We call her the Lady of the whole world and the Queen of all women. Through her, Jesus came to us, and through her we have found God's heavenly grace. Happy birthday, holy Mary!

God would give them a child, and through that child the salvation of the whole world would come.— the angel's message to Joachim

Her name was Maryam, which means "Lady," and also "Gift and Grace."

Saint Bartholomew, Who Built a Church for Mary

Today we also remember Saint Bartholomew. He was one of Jesus' twelve apostles, the close friends Jesus sent out to teach people everywhere about God.

Bartholomew loved God so much that he is called the Crown of the Faith. He worked hard for God: he fixed up old churches that were broken down, and he built a brand-new church in honor of our Lady Mary.

Because Bartholomew gave his whole life to God, we celebrate him on Mary's happy birthday too. It is a perfect day to remember a man who loved Mary's Son, Jesus, and built a beautiful house of prayer in her name.