The Annunciation of the Lord
Feast Day: March 25
This feast day celebrates the appearance of the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary to announce
her role in the salvation of the world - that she would conceive of the Holy Spirit and bear a son,
our Lord, Jesus Christ. It is one of the most important feasts in the Church calendar because
it celebrates the very moment of the Incarnation of our Savior, God made flesh
in the womb of his mother, Mary. Christ, the Son of God, is made flesh in her womb, making Mary the Mother of God. The feast celebrates the beginning of God's new redemptive work
and recognizes Mary as the 'new Eve' - the obedient and faithful woman who generously
agreed to participate in God's plan of salvation.
From the Gospel of Luke 1:26-38
"In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name
was Mary. And coming to her, he said, 'Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.' But she was greatly troubled at what was said, and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most high. And the Lord God will give Him the throne of David His father, and of His kingdom there will be no end.' But Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?' And the angel said to her in reply, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren, for nothing will be impossible for God.' And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me
according to your word.' Then the angel departed from her.
Annunciation of the Lord was chosen for our parish's name because it reminds us all
of the blessings that occur when we respond 'yes' to God's call and submit to His will in our lives. The biblical account of the annunciation is the origin of the words we pray each time we recite
the "Hail Mary". Mary is our mother and our model, inspiring us to holiness
by answering God's call with love and trust. May we imitate her selfless and trusting
commitment when she gave herself fully to God's plan for her life.
Feast Day: March 25
This feast day celebrates the appearance of the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary to announce
her role in the salvation of the world - that she would conceive of the Holy Spirit and bear a son,
our Lord, Jesus Christ. It is one of the most important feasts in the Church calendar because
it celebrates the very moment of the Incarnation of our Savior, God made flesh
in the womb of his mother, Mary. Christ, the Son of God, is made flesh in her womb, making Mary the Mother of God. The feast celebrates the beginning of God's new redemptive work
and recognizes Mary as the 'new Eve' - the obedient and faithful woman who generously
agreed to participate in God's plan of salvation.
From the Gospel of Luke 1:26-38
"In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name
was Mary. And coming to her, he said, 'Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.' But she was greatly troubled at what was said, and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most high. And the Lord God will give Him the throne of David His father, and of His kingdom there will be no end.' But Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?' And the angel said to her in reply, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren, for nothing will be impossible for God.' And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me
according to your word.' Then the angel departed from her.
Annunciation of the Lord was chosen for our parish's name because it reminds us all
of the blessings that occur when we respond 'yes' to God's call and submit to His will in our lives. The biblical account of the annunciation is the origin of the words we pray each time we recite
the "Hail Mary". Mary is our mother and our model, inspiring us to holiness
by answering God's call with love and trust. May we imitate her selfless and trusting
commitment when she gave herself fully to God's plan for her life.
