The Annunciation

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Luke 1:38

The image above was painted by Henry Ossawa Tanner of Mary as a young Jewish girl. She appeared thoughtful and reflective of Gabriel’s message, and Gabriel appeared as a beam of light that permeated the room with its glow. The young woman watched the celestial light as she pondered her great responsibility. Gabriel communicated with Mary, and she listened while attempting to comprehend his message. Tanner emphasised Mary’s humanity and ordinariness. Her humanity was contrasted with the figure of Gabriel as a “flood of golden light.” The artist demonstrated this communication between divine and human, seen and unseen. By portraying Mary as ordinary and human, Tanner presented the potential for all humans to have this intimate relationship with the divine.

The Anunciation is very important in the defense of the life of unborn children. God places the highest value on human life. He loved us so much that he became one of us, took on our human nature and became an innocent, completely dependent infant. Let us consecrate all the names we receive through this prayer ministry to Jesus and Mary.

By Mary's obedient Fiat, heaven and earth meet. When we repeat the words of the angel by praying the Hail Mary, the Word of God dwells among us.

The word Angelus means Angel. It is a prayer coming from the Bible calling to mind the Incarnation of Jesus. This is taken from Luke 1:26-38. “The angel of the Lord announced unto Mary.” In Latin it is “Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ.” The naming of the prayer and ring of the bell is called Angelus.



In the development of the custom of three rings of the Angelus, the first development was to ring the Angelus at the evening. This ringing was focused on the Incarnation of Jesus which happened in the evening. Later the custom developed to ring the Angelus also in the morning. Here the focus was on Jesus’ resurrection which happened in the morning. As time continued, a third ringing at noon was added. This third ringing was focused on Jesus’ death which happened around noon. During the year the Angelus is said. During Easter time the Regina Caeli (Queen of Heaven) is said.

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary,for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
Luke 1:30-33