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We celebrate the feast of the Annunciation on March 25. The American Catholic Church will probably never add another Holy Day of Obligation in my life time, but if it does, it could add the feast of the Annunciation.
On this feast day, we celebrate the good news that Mary conceived Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.
It certainly is a holy day, but presently not of obligation.
In Luke 1:26-38 the angel says, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. You shall conceive and bear a son, and give him the name Jesus. Great will be his dignity, and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and his reign will be without end.”
Mary asked, “How can this be, since I do not know man?”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; hence, the child to be born will be called the Son of God. Know that your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son. She who was thought to be sterile is now in her sixth month. For with God nothing will be impossible.”
And Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.”
Mary’s consent is a very important step in salvation history.
In Genesis 1:27 it says, “God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them.”
Since God is love, we image God best when we love; but, our ability to love was wounded by original sin which resulted in murder, wars, hate, and other sins.
God the Father sent his Son Jesus to show us what true love is, died on the cross to redeem us from sin which keeps us from loving, rose from the dead, ascended to Heaven, and sent the Holy Spirit to help us to follow Jesus in good and bad times.
The Annunciation began Mary’s role in the work of redemption.
Her role is much more than biological as we express in the Litany of the Blessed Mother.
She will now be caregiver, intercessor, the first and greatest disciple, and much more.
She was fully open to doing God’s will and followed Jesus from crib to cross.
God the Father chose Mary to be Jesus’ mother by gifting her to be immaculately conceived without sin. In no 488 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church it says, “The Father of mercies willed that the Incarnation should be preceded by assent on the part of the predestined mother, so that just as a woman (Eve) had a share in the coming of death, so too would a woman contribute to the coming of life.”
The Annunciation throughout the years
The Annunciation has been featured in Catholic art, especially during the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
According to Fr. Joseph Krempa, occasionally warring Renaissance families who had come to a truce would commission a painting of the Annunciation with the angel dressed in the colors of one family, and Mary in the colors of the other to illustrate their reconciliation.
Reconciliation with humanity manifested in the Annunciation was the model for their peace with each other.
The second century writer Irenaeus of Lyons celebrated the conception of Jesus on March 25.
This coincided with commemorating the passion of Jesus in that earlier time.
During the early Middle Ages, March 25 was considered to be the beginning of the new year.
In England, the Annunciation came to be known as Lady’s Day, and it marked the new year until 1750.
The Annunciation was the first spark in igniting the vast fire of Christ’s redeeming love that would touch billions of souls.
Importance on the family
The feast of St. Joseph, husband of Mary, occurs on March 19, six days before the Annunciation.
This reminds us of the importance of Joseph who accepted, supported and protected Mary and Jesus during difficult, dangerous times.
Though he was Jesus’ foster father, he is the patron saint of fathers. His example is much needed.
Today, there has been an increased emphasis on Joseph’s role in salvation history.
The feast of the Annunciation on March 25 shows that the conception of Jesus by Mary occurred nine months before his birth which we celebrate on December 25.
This reminds us that human life begins at conception, which truth many in our world reject.
The Holy Spirit came to Mary with great power. The same Holy Spirit comes to us in quiet subtle ways in the quiet of our mind and heart.
Let us pray to be open and respond to these often unexpected undeserved graced filled moments.
Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us see with the eyes of Jesus, love with his heart and walk in his ways on earth to Heaven.
Fr. Donald Lange is a pastor emeritus in the Diocese of Madison.