St. Augustine: "The day on which Mary gave birth to the Savior"

“LET us therefore be happy and celebrate the day on which Mary gave birth to the Savior—she, given in marriage, to the Creator of marriage; she, a virgin, to the Prince of virgins; espoused to a husband, but a mother not by her husband; a virgin before marriage—a virgin with Child, a virgin nursing her Child! For indeed, when her omnipotent Son was born, He in no wise took away the virginity of His holy mother whom He had chosen when He was to be born.”

~St. Augustine: Sermons, 188.

Nativity (Holy Night), by Correggio.

Oil on canvas, 1528-30; Gemäldegalerie, Dresden.