The Feast of the Annunciation celebrates one of the most important events in human history: the Incarnation of Our Savior in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Had Christ not taken on our flesh, our flesh could not be saved.
The Church's celebration of the Annunciation is believed to date to the early 5th century, possibly originating at about the time of the Council of Ephesus (c 431). Earlier names for the Feast were Festum Incarnationis—The Feast of the Incarnation, and Conceptio Christi—the Conception of Christ. In the Eastern Churches, the Annunciation is a feast of Christ, but in the Latin Church it is a feast of Mary. The Annunciation has always been celebrated on March 25, exactly nine months before Christmas Day, except when it is displaced by the Sacred Triduum or the Octave of Easter, as it was this year.
One of the great spiritual maladies that afflicts us, even devout Christians, is spiritual amnesia, we forget, we fail to keep in mind, what God has done for us. The fact that the Eternal Word has become flesh for our salvation should fill us with such constant joy, and yet, we forget this fact, and allow worldly concerns take away our joy.
Well, one way that Catholics have attempted to keep in mind the great mysteries—to combat this spiritual amnesia, is through the development of devotions. For example, devotions like Eucharistic adoration help us to keep in mind the Lord’s Eucharistic presence with the Church, a daily examination of conscience help us to keep in mind our need for God’s mercy. The praying of the rosary helps us to remember our Mother Mary’s great care for us.
A millennia-old devotion which helps us keep in mind the great mystery of the incarnation, which we celebrate today, is of course the praying of the Angelus. Traditionally, prayed at morning, noon, and night, the Angelus helps us to remember this most important event in our salvation history, the incarnation of the savior through the virgin’s acceptance of God’s will.
At my first parish assignment, the school children one year, committed to praying the Angelus every day at noon. Our Church bells here at St. Clare chime every day at noon and at six pm, echoing throughout the surrounding neighborhood, reminding us to pray the Angelus.
When we keep the divine mysteries before our eyes and hearts, their power to shape our lives becomes unleashed, and we endeavor all the more to seek heavenly things rather than becoming distracted by earthly things.
May the celebration of these great mysteries of faith, confirm us and strengthen us in obedience to the Divine Will of God and trust in his saving mercy for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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