Feast of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary today. Of course, it is impossible for the canonical New Testament to have any record of the birth of Our Lady. The gospels proclaim our Lord, Jesus Christ, not the Blessed Virgin. She was only a supporting cast in the story of our Saviour.
This feast was the outcome of Marian devotion from previous centuries. We humans need a father-figure as well as a mother-figure to hold on to. Jesus understands our needs. Therefore, while he was still hanging on the cross, he entrusted us into the care of his mother (John 19:26) and gave us his own mother to be our mother (John 19:27). She becomes the perfect channel to convey God's blessings on our needs. Very often, our earthly mothers are less than desirable. The Blessed Virgin, our Heavenly Mother, is able to fill up this void. Naturally, we invest whatever is lacking in our earthly mothers into the Blessed Virgin. It is at first sight, a bit contradictory to have a virgin as a mother. Think just one step ahead, we will immediately know that it is possible when we are only her adopted children. Of course, the virgin-birth of the Saviour is another story. As the Blessed Virgin, Mary naturally becomes the patron saint for all the virgins. In ancient times, if a woman wanted to free herself from the patriarchal tyranny of marriage and childbearing, leading a religious life as a nun was one way out. Therefore, the Blessed Virgin is also an Advocate of Women Emancipation. Believe it or not, the Catholic Church has been pretty progressive in allowing the proliferation of Marian devotion and in allowing women to shake off the roles assigned them by the society at large. This probably explains the origin and growth of Marian devotion in the Catholic Church. Of course, this is just a wild hypothesis and the Catholic Church may not endorse such an explanation. Anyway, as her children, it is appropriate for us to celebrate the nativity of our Heavenly Mother.
Most of us are grownups and our surviving mothers are most likely aged. Looking back, the mass culture has been feeding us with immaculate images of mothers. They have been portrayed as adorable, devotional, heroic, lovable, selfless and tender. In reality, many a mother is fragile, addicted to mahjong and even foulmouthed. When they were young and inexperienced, they might be overanxious and domineering. When they are aging, they might become impossible to reason with, obsessive and might begin to lose touch with the outside world. When they become unlovable, it is emotionally exhausting to love them back.
In this feast of Nativity of Our Lady, we don't just honour our Heavenly Mother. This feast also reminds us of our aging mothers, of their needs. How did you celebrate the birthday of your mother when she was younger? Now that she is getting old and her mind regressing to babies, how will you celebrate her birthday?
This summer, I spent a week living with my mum. In the foreseeable future, I might not have any other chance to do the same. I hope I will not feel guilty about failing to repay her what an eldest son should do.

My Heavenly Mother, channel your grace to my mum. May she be free from her alcoholism and enjoy a peaceful autumn in life. Amen.