Happy Feast of the Annunciation!

Happy Feast of the Annunciation
of the Blessed Virgin Mary!

On this great Feast of the Incarnation, nine months prior to Christmas Day, we commemorate that blessed day on which, at the message of an Angel, the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, uniting within Himself, in the womb of the Blessed Virgin, our human nature with His Divine nature.

On this sacred day, the Church equally proclaims the humility of God the Son and the greatness and glory of Mary, the Mother of God, our Co-Redemptrix, in whose virginal womb the Son of God became the Son of Man.

May Her prayers preserve us!

May Francis Relent of His Announced Plans and Consecrate Russia
Precisely as Requested by Our Lady of Fatima!

Also today, following the conclusion of the Consecration ceremony by Pope Francis in Rome, join The Fatima Center’s Livestreamed Special Report (on your favorite Fatima Center platform) at 2 P.M. (EST), featuring Christopher Ferrara and Dr. Brian McCall. They will provide analysis and commentary on the Consecration. Questions from viewers will also be taken.

It is not too late to keep praying that the Consecration will be done as Our Lady requested, by the Pope in union with all the bishops of the Catholic Church. Thus, The Fatima Center staff will continue with its Novena Prayer (which we began after the Pope’s announcement about today’s Consecration) right up until the time the Consecration begins! If you are able, offer up penances and sacrifices. None of it will go to waste! 

The Annunciation

by Rev. L. C. Fillion

“The angel entered,” says the Greek text, and at once saluted Mary with deep respect, using the ancient Oriental formula, “Peace to thee!” which is still the practice among Jews and Arabs. Then in a few words of singular force, he indicated to what a degree the august Virgin was already favored by God: “[Thou art] full of grace, the Lord is with Thee: blessed art Thou among women.” But Heaven had in reserve for Her a privilege that explains and marvelously surpassed all the favors of the past.

The angel’s words of praise greatly troubled Mary. The humble maiden was perplexed and wondered what might be the aim and purport of such a salutation. The heavenly messenger made haste to reassure Her, describing, in solemn language befitting the subject, the sublime part She was called upon to take in the work of Redemption. Calling Her by name, with mingled familiarity and kindliness, he 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.”

For any Jew familiar, as Mary was, with the Old Testament oracles, these words were as clear as day, for they contained a popular description of the Messias, a resume of the most famous Messianic prophecies. The Child that the angel promised to Mary was to possess all the titles and to fulfill all the ministries attributed by God and public opinion to the impatiently awaited liberator. This portrait bore too striking a likeness not to be at once recognized, and the Blessed Virgin could not have understood better, had Gabriel confined himself to saying “God destines you to become the Mother of Christ.”

To become the Mother of the Messias! Any other Jewish maiden would certainly have accepted this distinguished honor without the slightest hesitation, with inexpressible joy. Mary’s heart must have thrilled with joy when she comprehended the divine proposal. And yet this most prudent Virgin, instead of giving Her consent at once, thought it behooved Her to ask the angel for an explanation: “How shall this be done?” Then, to justify Her question, She adds: “Because I know not man.”

In fact, while the angel’s language was very clear in its ensemble, and had alluded in its first words to Isaias’ prophecy of the Virgin-Mother – “Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and His name shall be called Emmanuel” – it had not explained the wonderful manner of the privilege offered to Mary. She was not certain that the birth of the Child would be absolutely supernatural. But She had a very legitimate and grave reason for questioning the heavenly messenger on this point, and that reason is contained in the words, “I know not man.”

Inasmuch as, in the very first lines of the account, Mary is presented to us as the betrothed wife of Joseph, these words can, in all reason, have only one sense: they conclusively suppose that, under the inspiration of Heaven and in agreement with St. Joseph, Mary had consecrated Her virginity to God by an irrevocable vow. Otherwise Her question would be meaningless. Why should She ask with astonishment how She was to become a mother, if She married like others, to have children? Since the time of the Fathers, such has always been the Catholic interpretation of these words, that contain the touching avowal of an ideally pure soul.

The angel Gabriel hastens to furnish the enlightenment that Mary requested. After the manner of the Hebrews in solemn circumstances, he does so in rhythmic, cadenced language, of great power and delicate beauty:

“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.”

These words clearly signify that this Child will be born in a manner altogether supernatural. The Holy Ghost Himself will perform this prodigy, in which the flesh will have no part. It is, therefore, not from any corrupt or vitiated source, but from an absolutely pure source, that will come the germ of life which will enable Mary to become a mother while preserving Her virginity. The angel could not have indicated to Mary in more exact and discreet terms the mode of Her maternity, which absolutely excluded all human cooperation.

Since it is under such conditions that Mary is to become a mother, without any infringement upon Her vow, She can accept Heaven’s proposal unhesitatingly. Not having doubted the angel’s words for a single moment, She did not ask for any sign or guaranty of his mission. But he spontaneously offers an undeniable proof of his truthfulness. It consists of a circumstantial announcement of another marvelous birth, although of a very different order, which would precede that of the Messias: “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.”

The Lord is almighty! The angel could not close his message more effectively than by this incontestable principle, with which, as with their supreme cause, he connects the two miraculous births.

Gabriel’s mission is ended. He is now silent and waits for Mary’s reply in an attitude of profound respect. The proposal which God deigned to make to the Virgin of Nazareth by His messenger was not, on His part, a command that had to be accepted absolutely. Even for a role so lofty, the Most High would not compel the will of His creature. This is why the angel waits.

What a solemn moment! The world from its creation had never known the like. As St. Augustine declares with eloquent piety, “O blessed Mary, the entire world enslaved by Satan awaits your consent. Virgin, delay not. Make haste to answer the messenger from Heaven!”

Reassured, Mary gives Her consent in words which are as simple as they are sublime: “Behold the Handmaid of the Lord; be it done to Me according to thy word.” This is the language of faith, of obedience ready for any sacrifice, of unconditional compliance. Is it not the essential function of a slave to do his master’s bidding in all things?

It is likely that Mary foresaw the grievous suffering in which Her consent would entail Her, especially from the suspicions that would encompass Her — foremost on the part of Her husband — without Her being able to defend Herself against them. Yet Her acceptance was unconditional; She left everything to Providence, by uttering Her generous “Fiat.”

“And the angel departed from Her.” With this quiet remark closes the account of a delightful scene of capital importance for the salvation of mankind, and it cannot be doubted that the adorable mystery of the Incarnation was accomplished as soon as Gabriel departed.

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