Mary was born to be the mother of the world’s Savior, the spiritual mother of all men, and the holiest of God’s creatures, Jesus Christ. Because of her Son’s infinite merits, she was conceived and born immaculate and full of grace. Through her, Queen of heaven and earth, all grace is given to men. Through her, by the will of the Trinity, the unbelieving receive the gift of faith; the afflicted are tendered the works of mercy, and the members of Christ grow in the likeness of their Head. In Mary, all human nature is exalted. We rejoice in her birthday, as the Church has done from the earliest times.