The Incarnation is one of the central mysteries in our Faith. With the Incarnation, "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father" (John 1:14). And yet that moment occurred in complete obscurity. During the most important conversation in all history, no one apart from Mary had any idea! Not even St. Joseph was aware of what was taking place in the body and soul of Our Lady at the time of the Annunciation. It is an intimate moment, a personal encounter with the Living God.
The Angelus is a prayer that draws us into the moment when the Angel Gabriel announced to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus, the Son of God. This prayer is traditionally recited three times daily: at dawn, noon, and dusk.
In St. Bernard of Clairvaux's famous homily on the Annunciation, he addresses Our Lady and reminds her that the whole world awaits her reply: “Tearful Adam with his sorrowing family begs this of you, O loving Virgin, in their exile from Paradise. Abraham begs it, David begs it. All the other holy patriarchs, your ancestors, ask it of you, as they dwell in the country of the shadow of death. This is what the whole earth waits for, prostrate at your feet.”
As we pray the Angelus we can relive and enter into that incredible conversation. We repeat and ponder Mary’s reply to the Angel. We are invited to fix our gaze on what it is the Lord is asking of us daily, and strive to imitate Our Blessed Mother’s response to His invitation. She is the perfect example of saying yes to God’s will in our lives.
Our Lady’s great faith and openness to the Holy Spirit brought Heaven to earth! By welcoming the Word into her heart, Mary became the bearer of Life for the entire world.
Similar to the bells that are rung during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the ringing of the Angelus bells calls to attention the importance and the sacredness of the Annunciation and of the Incarnation. When we hear those bells ring out, we can exult in the tremendous gift of the Incarnation, and give thanks to the Lord that Mary said, “Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum!”
The Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, like the Incarnation, is a profound and mysterious truth of faith. In a very literal way, the Incarnation is prolonged by the Eucharist. In the Eucharist this same Christ gives himself to each one who receives the Eucharist as nourishment so that we are nourished by His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Learning from Our Blessed Mother to nurture the Word in faith, prayer and trust, we too can become bearers of grace, sharing in her openness and surrender to the Lord’s Will.
Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae...
