Nothing is known for sure about the details of the Blessed Virgin’s birth. Even her parents, traditionally known as St Joachim and St Anne, are not mentioned in Sacred Scriptures. Today’s feast originated in the East, probably during the sixth century, and was later introduced to the West. A French legend tells of a man hearing angels singing on the night of 8 September and being told that the Virgin Mary was born on that night. Her earthly birth is celebrated (like that of St John the Baptist) because it announced to the world the coming of Jesus, the beginning of the New Covenant. – CTS New Daily Roman Missal 2012, p 2970
