How did the Church determine that September 8 is Mary's birthday?
The short answer
The Church usually assigns feast dates. September 8 falls nine months after December 8, when the Church celebrates Mary's Immaculate Conception.
Assigned dates
The Church usually assigns dates for feasts — for example, the date of a saint's death, a date of special meaning in the saint's life, or another meaningful date.
Nine months
For the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, September 8 is nine months after December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
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