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The feast of the Annunciation of the Lord celebrates the angel Gabriel's appearance to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-38), his announcement that the Blessed Virgin had been chosen to be the Mother of Our Lord, and Mary's willing acceptance of God's holy plan. Originally a feast of our Lord, but now celebrated as a Marian feast, the feast of the Annunciation dates back at least to the fifth century, and the date of the feast, which is determined by the date of Christmas, was set at March 25 by the seventh century. The Annunciation, as much as or even more so than Christmas, represents Christ's Incarnation. When Mary signaled to Gabriel her acceptance of God's Will, Christ was conceived in her womb through the power of the Holy Spirit. While most of the Fathers of the Church say that Mary's fiat was essential to God's plan of salvation, God foresaw Mary's acceptance of His Will from all eternity. My plan to honor Mary's commitment and celebrate this day is to model her behavior. Her willingness, allowed Jesus's ultimate sacrifice and opened the option of eternal life for all Christians. Having recently celebrated the feast day for St. Joseph, it is fitting that we complete the circle during Lent and honor Mary's commitment. Both Mary and Joseph provide us with solid models of Christian piety and obedience. I hope that your day is filled with wonder and excitement just as Mary must have felt over two thousand years ago when first visited by the angel Gabriel.

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