Every September 8 we celebrate with joy, together with the whole Church, the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, a day on which we remember the gift of her life as a woman empowered by the love of God. In Mary we contemplate the generous yes that opens the way to hope, the tenderness that brings us closer to the mystery of God and the maternal intercession that accompanies humanity in its history.
Today, as we remember her birth, we wish to place under her motherly care a special supplication: that she may give us the gift of peace in the world. War, violence and divisions remind us how urgent it is to ask for her intercession so that peace may be possible in every heart, family, people and nation.
This day is also intertwined with two international commemorations that invite us to look at education as a right and a path to peace:
International Literacy Day
September 8 marks the commemoration of International Literacy Day. UNESCO invites policy makers, practitioners and the general public to remember the critical importance of literacy in creating a more literate, just, peaceful and sustainable society.
International Day to Protect Education from Attack
In addition, on September 9, the United Nations invites you to celebrate the International Day for Protecting Education from Attacks. International Day for Protecting Education from Attack. (UN). No child should have to risk his or her life to study. Attacks on education in conflict zones have reached alarming levels. Over the past year, there has been a 44% increase in attacks on schools, resulting in the death, abduction and trauma of thousands of students and teachers. These violations threaten not only the lives of individuals, but also the future of entire communities.
It is for this reason that today, as we remember the birth of Mary, the simple woman of Nazareth, we ask through her intercession for the gift of peace, which she, as a teacher of faith, teaches us to care for life and to open paths of fraternity. In her Nativity, may we renew our desire to be builders of peace and defenders of education as seeds of a more human and fraternal world.
Questions for our prayer and personal commitment
- What do I ask Mary, Holy Mary of Peace? What does my petition commit me to?
- How can I be a bearer of peace in my daily environment?
- What concrete actions can I take to support and promote education, especially in vulnerable contexts?
