Micah 5:1-4 or Romans 8:28-30 / Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23
Usually the Church commemorates and honours the saints at their death anniversary.
The death anniversary as their entry into heaven and rewarded with eternal life with God for their lives of service and sacrifice on earth.
The nativity, or birth, is only celebrated for Jesus Christ at Christmas, and also for Mary and for John the Baptist.
The reason for this is found in the singular mission each had in salvation history, but traditionally also because these alone were holy in their very birth.
St. John the Baptist was sanctified in St Elizabeth's womb and he leapt for joy (Lk 1:15). He was be the herald of the coming of the Saviour
For Mary, it was her Immaculate Conception. She was to be the Mother of the Son of God and her birth signalled the beginning of God's plan of salvation that was to be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
For Mary, she had a mission in life, and she was faithful to that mission and fulfilled that mission.
Each of us too have a unique mission in life. It is in the plan of God that each of us will have a unique role in the ministry of salvation.
Let us ask Mary to pray for us that we will come to realise what our mission is and to be faithful to it and fulfill it for the glory of God, just as Mary did.