what is september 8 in the catholic church

September 8 in the Catholic Church is celebrated as the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast commemorates the birth of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and is one of the few birth celebrations on the Church's liturgical calendar—the others being the births of Jesus and John the Baptist. The date of September 8 was chosen because it is exactly nine months after December 8, which is the feast of the Immaculate Conception, marking Mary's conception without original sin. Although Mary's birth is not recorded in the Bible, pious tradition and early Christian writings, such as the Protoevangelium of James, tell of her parents, Saints Joachim and Anne, and their prayerful anticipation of her birth. The feast is significant because Mary's birth marks a key moment in salvation history, as she was born to be the mother of the Savior and is considered the holiest of God's creatures. The Church views her birth as the hope of the entire world and the dawn of salvation. Celebrations of this feast date back to at least the sixth century, and it holds a joyful place in the liturgical calendar.