Maria Bambina
Happy Birthday Dear Mother!
In the 18th and 19th century a devotion associated with the Nativity of Mary really took hold in Italy and Mexico. One of the popular devotions is the Maria Bambina. The story has been told:
A Franciscan nun made this statue of the little Virgin out of wax sometime before 1730. She later gave it to others, and after passing as a gift through various hands it was finally given to the Sisters of Charity in Lovere, Italy. In 1876 they brought it to their motherhouse in Milan (where it has stayed ever since). By this time, the statue had become worn and gray.
One of the nuns, Sister Josephine Woinovich, suffered from paralysis in her feet and arms. She could not get out of bed and was confined to the infirmary in great pain. In 1884, on the Feast of Mary's Nativity, Sister Josephine convinced the Mother General to leave the statue of Maria Bambina in her room overnight. The next morning Mother decided to take the little statue on a "tour" of the infirmary, to visit all the ill sisters there.
To continue this story, learn more of the history and find prayers associtated with this feast day go here.
David and Robb have also blogged more extensively on this feast.
Picture of Maria Bambina from here
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