A Happy and Blessed Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin
Solemnity Today - March 25th
Et Verbum caro factum est - And the Word was made flesh! Today we celebrate the great feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It could also be named the feast of the Incarnation; for, it’s exactly nine months to the day before Christ’s blessed Nativity.
In this Solemnity, we celebrate the very moment that Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in all humility, was conceived in the womb of a lowly virgin. And likewise, we bow down in awe before that most sacred event, upon which is the very foundation of our holy Catholic Faith. For, in this unfathomable Mystery, the redemption of mankind was inaugurated.
We also celebrate the profound humility and unblemished beauty of the person chosen to be the receptacle of this miracle: the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is through this most holy Vessel of Honor that Our Lord Jesus Christ came into the world, and likewise, it is through her that He will reign in the world.
The Word was made flesh! Unto eternity, our human nature is united with the Godhead. There is nothing more profound. Yet, while truly a great mystery of faith, the Annunciation also clearly manifests to us a great lesson in humility. Our Lady is seen completely taken aback, humbled before the Archangel Gabriel; and our God, Who endowed us with freedom of choice, awaits the Holy Virgin’s consent. The Gospel reading of today is that from Saint Luke:
At that time: The Angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a Virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the Virgin’s name was Mary. And the Angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the Angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father: and he shall reign in the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said to the Angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? And the Angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore, also the Holy which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren: because no word shall be impossible with God. And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word. - Luke 1:26:38
Ecce ancilla Domini, fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum - Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to Thy word. At this moment of Blessed Mary's sweet Fiat, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity condescended to take upon our human nature. God became man! Our Lady gave her perfect consent to our heavenly Father with her pure gift, bestowed from her Immaculate Heart. She gave without limit, wanting nothing other than to be in complete accord with the Father’s adorable Will. The Divine Will and human will perfectly embraced, and the Holy Ghost breathed life into her most spotless womb. The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us.
Rev. Fr. Alban Butler writes in Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints, these very beautiful words to indicate the immense importance of the Blessed Virgin’s Fiat:
"The world, as heaven had decreed, was not to have a Savior till she had given her consent to the angel's proposal; she gives it and behold the power and efficacy of her submissive fiat! That moment, the mystery of love and mercy promised to mankind four thousand years before, foretold by so many Prophets, desired by so many Saints, is wrought on earth. That moment, the Word of God is forever united to humanity; the Soul of Jesus Christ, produced from nothing, begins to enjoy God, and to know all things past, present, and to come: that moment, God begins to have an adorer who is infinite, and the world a mediator who is omnipotent; and, to the working of this great Mystery, Mary alone is chosen to co-operate by her free assent. The prophets represent the earth as moved out of its place, and the mountains as melting away before the very Countenance of God looking down upon the world. Now that He descends in person, who would not expect that the whole heavens should be moved?"
Solemnity Today - March 25th
Et Verbum caro factum est - And the Word was made flesh! Today we celebrate the great feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It could also be named the feast of the Incarnation; for, it’s exactly nine months to the day before Christ’s blessed Nativity.
In this Solemnity, we celebrate the very moment that Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in all humility, was conceived in the womb of a lowly virgin. And likewise, we bow down in awe before that most sacred event, upon which is the very foundation of our holy Catholic Faith. For, in this unfathomable Mystery, the redemption of mankind was inaugurated.
We also celebrate the profound humility and unblemished beauty of the person chosen to be the receptacle of this miracle: the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is through this most holy Vessel of Honor that Our Lord Jesus Christ came into the world, and likewise, it is through her that He will reign in the world.
The Word was made flesh! Unto eternity, our human nature is united with the Godhead. There is nothing more profound. Yet, while truly a great mystery of faith, the Annunciation also clearly manifests to us a great lesson in humility. Our Lady is seen completely taken aback, humbled before the Archangel Gabriel; and our God, Who endowed us with freedom of choice, awaits the Holy Virgin’s consent. The Gospel reading of today is that from Saint Luke:
At that time: The Angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a Virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the Virgin’s name was Mary. And the Angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the Angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father: and he shall reign in the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said to the Angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? And the Angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore, also the Holy which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren: because no word shall be impossible with God. And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word. - Luke 1:26:38
Ecce ancilla Domini, fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum - Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to Thy word. At this moment of Blessed Mary's sweet Fiat, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity condescended to take upon our human nature. God became man! Our Lady gave her perfect consent to our heavenly Father with her pure gift, bestowed from her Immaculate Heart. She gave without limit, wanting nothing other than to be in complete accord with the Father’s adorable Will. The Divine Will and human will perfectly embraced, and the Holy Ghost breathed life into her most spotless womb. The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us.
Rev. Fr. Alban Butler writes in Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints, these very beautiful words to indicate the immense importance of the Blessed Virgin’s Fiat:
"The world, as heaven had decreed, was not to have a Savior till she had given her consent to the angel's proposal; she gives it and behold the power and efficacy of her submissive fiat! That moment, the mystery of love and mercy promised to mankind four thousand years before, foretold by so many Prophets, desired by so many Saints, is wrought on earth. That moment, the Word of God is forever united to humanity; the Soul of Jesus Christ, produced from nothing, begins to enjoy God, and to know all things past, present, and to come: that moment, God begins to have an adorer who is infinite, and the world a mediator who is omnipotent; and, to the working of this great Mystery, Mary alone is chosen to co-operate by her free assent. The prophets represent the earth as moved out of its place, and the mountains as melting away before the very Countenance of God looking down upon the world. Now that He descends in person, who would not expect that the whole heavens should be moved?"
Et homo factus est
Yes, the whole heavens were moved; and we Catholics are forever moved in honoring Christ's Incarnation at every holy Mass, whenever we kneel in gratitude during the Credo, at the words: Et homo factus est - And was made man.
It was not that long ago, in all of Christendom, that the Angelus Bells reminded us three times a day (morning, noon, and evening) of Saint Gabriel's announcement, Blessed Mary's Fiat, and that the Creator of heaven and earth became flesh and dwelt amongst us.
In his Instructions for today's feast from The Liturgical Year, Dom Guéranger tells us how Saint Ireneus, the Second Century bishop and martyr, received this tradition from the very first disciples of the holy Apostles themselves - that Nazareth is truly the counterpart of Eden:
"In the garden of delights, there is a virgin and an angel. And at Nazareth, a virgin is also spoken to by an angel. But the angel of the earthly Paradise is a spirit of darkness, and the angel of Nazareth is a spirit of light. Two conversations engaged with two opposite spirits, with two opposite results. Through the first woman, sin and death enter the world; through the second Woman, redemption and eternal life. Thus, the humble obedience of Mary repaired the prideful disobedience of Eve.”
Yes, the whole heavens were moved; and we Catholics are forever moved in honoring Christ's Incarnation at every holy Mass, whenever we kneel in gratitude during the Credo, at the words: Et homo factus est - And was made man.
It was not that long ago, in all of Christendom, that the Angelus Bells reminded us three times a day (morning, noon, and evening) of Saint Gabriel's announcement, Blessed Mary's Fiat, and that the Creator of heaven and earth became flesh and dwelt amongst us.
In his Instructions for today's feast from The Liturgical Year, Dom Guéranger tells us how Saint Ireneus, the Second Century bishop and martyr, received this tradition from the very first disciples of the holy Apostles themselves - that Nazareth is truly the counterpart of Eden:
"In the garden of delights, there is a virgin and an angel. And at Nazareth, a virgin is also spoken to by an angel. But the angel of the earthly Paradise is a spirit of darkness, and the angel of Nazareth is a spirit of light. Two conversations engaged with two opposite spirits, with two opposite results. Through the first woman, sin and death enter the world; through the second Woman, redemption and eternal life. Thus, the humble obedience of Mary repaired the prideful disobedience of Eve.”
“Never was there a more entire or humiliating defeat, than that which was this day gained over Satan. The frail creature, over whom he had so easily triumphed at the beginning of the world, now rises and crushes his proud head. Eve conquers in Mary! God would not choose man for the instrument of His vengeance; the humiliation of Satan would not have been great enough; and therefore, a woman who was the first prey of hell, the first victim of the tempter, is selected as the one that is to give battle to the enemy of souls. The result of so glorious a triumph is, that Mary is to be superior not only to the rebel angels, but to the whole human race, yea, to all the angels of heaven. Seated on her exalted throne, she, the Mother of God, is to be the Queen of all creation. Satan, in the depths of the abyss, will eternally bewail his having dared to direct his first attack against the woman, for God has now so gloriously avenged her."
On This Date
Significant biblically historic events are given to today's date by Blessed Jacobus de Voragine, the holy Archbishop of Genoa, when he wrote in his famous book from 1275, The Golden Legend:
"This blessed Annunciation happened the twenty-fifth day of the month of March, on which day happened also, as well tofore as after, these things that hereafter be named.
“On that same day Adam, the first man, was created and fell into Original Sin by disobedience, and was put out of paradise terrestrial. After, the Archangel showed the conception of Our Lord to the glorious Virgin Mary.
“Also, that same day of the month Cain slew Abel his brother. Also, Melchisedech made offering to God of bread and wine in the presence of Abraham. Also, on the same day Abraham offered Isaac his son.
“That same day Saint John the Baptist was beheaded, and Saint Peter was that day delivered out of prison, and Saint James the more, that day beheaded of Herod. And Our Lord Jesus Christi was on that day crucified, wherefore that is a day of great reverence."
Significant biblically historic events are given to today's date by Blessed Jacobus de Voragine, the holy Archbishop of Genoa, when he wrote in his famous book from 1275, The Golden Legend:
"This blessed Annunciation happened the twenty-fifth day of the month of March, on which day happened also, as well tofore as after, these things that hereafter be named.
“On that same day Adam, the first man, was created and fell into Original Sin by disobedience, and was put out of paradise terrestrial. After, the Archangel showed the conception of Our Lord to the glorious Virgin Mary.
“Also, that same day of the month Cain slew Abel his brother. Also, Melchisedech made offering to God of bread and wine in the presence of Abraham. Also, on the same day Abraham offered Isaac his son.
“That same day Saint John the Baptist was beheaded, and Saint Peter was that day delivered out of prison, and Saint James the more, that day beheaded of Herod. And Our Lord Jesus Christi was on that day crucified, wherefore that is a day of great reverence."
Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre
Nov 29, 1905 - Mar 25, 1991
Today is also the 35th Anniversary of the Archbishop's holy passing, when His Grace gave back to God his heroic and pure soul. In accord with his request, the famous words of Saint Paul were engraved upon his tombstone: Tradidi quod et accepi - “I handed on what I received.”
Nov 29, 1905 - Mar 25, 1991
Today is also the 35th Anniversary of the Archbishop's holy passing, when His Grace gave back to God his heroic and pure soul. In accord with his request, the famous words of Saint Paul were engraved upon his tombstone: Tradidi quod et accepi - “I handed on what I received.”
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Permalink Reply by Joseph on
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Happy feast day to all.
Hopefully one day Archbishop Lefebvre will be declared a saint.
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Permalink Reply by Veronica Mowery on
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Happy and Blessed Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin!
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