25/03/2023
March 25 | THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Today is celebrated the archangel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she was to become, by the power of the Holy Ghost, the Mother of the long awaited Redeemer who would, by a reparation of infinite merit, atone for the innumerable injuries committed by our rebellious human race, and so redeem it. “Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you, blessed art thou amongst women!”
Mary was at first deeply disturbed by such praise which far exceeded her own estimation of herself. But Gabriel reassured her, and she submitted to God’s will; at her humble and obedient “fiat” (so be it done), “the great miracle of miracles”, the mystery of the Incarnation of the Creator in the most perfect of all his creatures became an accomplished fact. “O powerful fiat! With a fiat God created light, heaven and earth; but at Mary’s fiat God was made man like ourselves!” (St. Thomas of Villanova ). “To become the Mother of God is the highest state to which God could possibiy raise a mere creature.” (St. Bernardine of Siena.) “Mary could not be more closely united with God, without becoming God!” (St. Albert the Great). “Let every creature keep silence and tremble, hardly daring to consider the immensity of so great a dignity: God dwells in the Blessed Virgin and has with her the identity of one nature!” (St. Peter Damian. )
Our Lady once declared to St. Gertrude in a vision: “I will truly prove myself a mother to all who devoutly recall to me the joy which I felt in uttering the words: ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord’, and I will come to their aid without fail)” in ancient calendars today’s feast is sometimes called “the Feast of the Incarnation” (FESTUM INCARNATIONIS), “the Beginning of the Redemption” (INITIUM REDEMPTIONIS), “the Announcing of Christ” or “the Conception of Christ” (CONCEPTIO CHRISTI). This is one of the three most ancient feasts of Our Lady, and dates back to the great Council at Ephesus in 431A.D, when Our Lady was officially proclaimed the Mother of God.