--- title: Born on Mary’s Feast by Sarah Reinhard description: Born on Mary’s Feast by Sarah Reinhard --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2010/01/01/born-on-marys-feast-by-sarah-reinhard#) # Born on Mary’s Feast by Sarah Reinhard Jan 1, 2010 11:00:55 AM  |  by [Sarah Reinhard](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/sarah-reinhard) [![reinhard_new](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/reinhard_new-100x150-20.jpg?width=100&height=150&name=reinhard_new-100x150-20.jpg "reinhard_new")](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/reinhard_new-20.jpg)It was cold and clear.  I was pregnant-to-bursting, wearing a shiny red shirt that looked festive but wasn’t warm. Our parish was having a rare midnight Mass in honor of the January 1 feast of Mary, Mother of God, and I wasn’t missing it.  My husband, perhaps knowing better than to argue with me, agreed. I was lector that night, and though there was not the fanfare of the Christmas midnight Mass, it was still a challenge not to start sobbing.  I found myself overcome. I wrote it off as a combination of pregnancy hormones and my usual penchant for being overcome at Mass. A few hours later, I woke up to go to the bathroom.  There was nothing unusual about this, until I noticed the dripping. "Bob!" He groaned.  He rolled over.  He snored and didn’t respond. "BOB!" He sat up, but he wasn’t happy about it. "I think my water broke." *That* got his attention. But lacking a pool of liquid, he wasn’t convinced.  I wasn’t sure if I was feeling contractions or dinner, so we just went back to sleep. I’ll spare you the play-by-play, but six hours later, well into the morning of January 1, we were getting to know our first child, the daughter who was born on Mary’s feast. That daughter turns five this year, and she knows there’s something special about her birthday.  It marks a new year, for one thing, and is a national holiday.  The whole world seems to be celebrating, and there’s no shortage of parties. We go to Mass to celebrate her birthday, and that’s special too. But, for me, the most special aspect of her birthday is being linked to Mary in such an intimate way.  For me, my daughter’s birthday is a reminder that even I can be a mother.  It’s a cheer from my heavenly mother, encouragement of the strongest kind. "You can do it, Sarah," I imagine her saying to me.  "Even though you never thought you could, you can." She smiles at me, and we admire the baby-turned-preschooler.  She turns back and looks over her shoulder, and I follow her gaze. There He is, and I smile wider. Once again, Mary has led me to her Son. I can only say thank you, this year and every year, as I try my best to imitate her "Yes." ***Copyright 2010 Sarah Reinhard*** ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2010%2F01%2F01%2Fborn-on-marys-feast-by-sarah-reinhard%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2010%2F01%2F01%2Fborn-on-marys-feast-by-sarah-reinhard%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2010%2F01%2F01%2Fborn-on-marys-feast-by-sarah-reinhard%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Born%20on%20Mary%E2%80%99s%20Feast%20by%20Sarah%20Reinhard) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2010%2F01%2F01%2Fborn-on-marys-feast-by-sarah-reinhard%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2010%2F01%2F01%2Fborn-on-marys-feast-by-sarah-reinhard%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Sarah Reinhard](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/SARAH%20REINHARD.jpeg) ### [Sarah Reinhard](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/sarah-reinhard) When she’s not chasing kids, chugging coffee, or juggling work, Sarah Reinhard’s usually trying to stay up read just one … more … chapter. She writes and works in the midst of rural farm life with little ones underfoot. She is part of the team for the award-winning *Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion*, as well as the author of [a number of books](http://sarahreinhard.com/my-books/). ## Related Blog Articles [ Mary Book Spotlight: Mary, Mother of the Son trilogy, by Mark Shea By Sarah Reinhard Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2010/05/14/mary-book-spotlight-mary-mother-of-the-son-trilogy-by-mark-shea-by-sarah-reinhard) [ Mary at the Manger by Sarah Reinhard Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2009/12/25/mary-at-the-manger-by-sarah-reinhard) [ Barn Swallows and Mary, Leading Me to Jesus Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/barn-swallows-and-mary-leading-me-to-jesus) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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