In reality, we do not know when Mary was born, but in being the first believer of Christ and the one who opened the door to the Incarnation of God into our world, the church considers it appropriate to celebrate her birth. On this day, numerous feast days dedicated to the Virgin are celebrated, among them Our Lady of Charity, patroness of Cuba.

Let us pray today for the Cuban people and for the growth of faith and hope among all the Cubans—those who reside on the island and those who are in exile.