It has been a tradition of the Catholic Church to celebrate the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, on September 8; nine months after December 8 when we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, a Patronal Feast Day of the United States of America.   

In the “Protoevangelium of James,” an apocryphal gospel book, i.e. not considered as canonical, it claims to contain the narratives of Jesus’ and of Mary’s birth, infancy life, and their upbringing. Mary was the only child of Joachim and Anne. Joachim, her father, was a very wealthy member from the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Nonetheless, Joachim was deeply troubled, likewise his wife Anne, for they were childless. Joachim began fasting for forty days and forty nights in the desert while Anne prayed fervently. She prayed, saying, “Oh God of our fathers, bless me and hear my prayer, as You blessed the womb of our mother Sarah and gave her son Isaac to her.” And behold an angel appeared and said, “Anne, Anne, the Lord God has heard your prayer, and you shall conceive, and shall give birth; and your child shall be spoken of in all the world.” Similarly, an angel appeared to Joachim and said, “Joachim, Joachim, the Lord God has heard your prayer. Return home. And behold, your wife Anne has conceived a child in her womb.” Anne was standing by the gate, and saw Joachim coming, and she ran to meet him and wrapped herself around his neck, and said, “Now I know that the Lord God has blessed me greatly; for, behold the widow no longer a widow, and I the childless has conceived.”  

And his wife’s pregnancy came to term, nine months after, Anne gave birth and she said to the midwife, “What is it?” The midwife replied, “A girl.” Anne said, “My soul has been magnified this day.” And she laid her baby to bed and gave her the name Mary.”