Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, which commemorates the very mystery of the Word made flesh in the immaculate womb of the Virgin Mary.

I just came from an 8-day adaptation of the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius Loyola where the contemplation on the Incarnation opens the series of contemplations on the life of Our Lord. Certainly, it is one of the most moving moments filled with tremendous grace and consolation. With the rest of humanity practically oblivious to the event, Our Lord enters the world with Mary's consent in such humble and non-triumphant fashion. Indeed, this great mystery brings us to our knees in great wonder, for in the fullness of time he was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin for our sakes, stripping himself of the glory of his divinity and becoming one like us in all things except sin. (That is why during Mass today, at the Profession of Faith, we kneel at the words: Et incarnatus est) This same flesh and blood, born of the intact Virgin, would given to us in the Eucharist to be our food and drink and immolated on the Cross for our redemption.

The consent of Mary unites with the consent of Jesus to the Father and their most beautiful unison begins the great song of our salvation. Let us ask that we, unworthy though we are, be made worthy to raise our voices to join in this perfect liturgy of praise.