Solemnity of the Annunciation

25 March 2026 Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ, Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto “The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary, And she conceived of the Holy Spirit” So begins the Angelus, a prayer consisting of four short verses, each verse followed by a Hail Mary. It is recited thrice daily, generally at 6 AM, noon, and 6 PM. It commemorates our Lord’s incarnation, recalls Mary’s fiat, and contributes to making the day holy. The Annunciation is a quiet solemnity. There was no visible sign: no star, no eclipse, and no earthquake. There was no voice from the heavens. Simply a quiet scene that took place in a small room in an obscure village in the Middle East. But, the Universe held its breath as it unfolded. An angel was carrying news to a young woman named Mary. How would she reply? Is this the time? Mary was startled when she heard the angel’s message. Nothing stirred outside that small room. The universe became silent when it heard the angel's greeting, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with thee." Clasping its hands over its heart, the world waited anxiously. St. Bernard of Clairvaux wrote: “The angel awaits an answer; it is time for him to return to God who sent him. We too are waiting, O Lady. . . .The price of our salvation is offered to you. We shall be set free at once if you consent. . . .” The woman appeared puzzled and concerned, as if she were asking herself what the angel’s greeting meant. The look on her face was changing. Wait . . . . and then: "Ecce ancilla Domini, fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum." "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, May it be done unto me according to your word." In a sigh of relief the universe changed. It would never be the same. A new calm descended. The prophecy would be fulfilled. Mary’s words penetrated the very substance of all that is. Those words would echo forever. The most perfect yes in history had just been enunciated. The universe and all within it rejoiced. The virgin had accepted her vocation to be the Theotokos, the God-bearer, in fulfillment of the prophecy to Ahaz. Like us, Mary was endowed with free will. She could have rejected the vocation the angel presented to her. On the surface it seems irreverent to suggest that Mary could have refused. Her decision, however, was not inevitable. It was not forced by God. She was chosen. But she was free to choose. Fiat mihi secundum tuum was her yes. In the third verse of the angelus we pray: Et Verbum caro factum est. Et habitavit in nobis “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” Angels rejoiced. Heaven celebrated. Mary's life would change. Joseph would soon receive her into his house. They would soon make the arduous journey to Bethlehem where Jesus would be born of the House of David,once again in fulfillment of a prophecy. The annunciation almost always occurs during lent. During lent the Eastern Church chants a hymn to the Theotokos, Mary, the God-bearer, whose reply to the angel enabled the universe to rejoice. It includes the verse: "Receive, O earth, the glad tidings of great joy. Heavens, praise the glory of God. The Theotokos, the God-bearer, the living tabernacle of God shall not be touched by an unclean hand. The lips of believers shall sing to her ceaselessly with the voices of angels crying joyfully, Hail full of grace, The Lord is with Thee." Thus, we celebrate today.