Hail Mary – The Beginning of a New Era

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The Annunciation started a new era in the history of the world!

“And the angel being come in, said unto her; ‘Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Blessed art thou among women.’

“Who having heard, was troubled at his saying and thought within herself what manner of salutation this should be.

“And the angel said to her: ‘Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.

“‘Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a Son; and thou shalt call His name Jesus.

Hail Mary Songs of Love and Devotion by the Sisters MICM.“‘He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of David His father: and He shall reign in the house of Jacob forever.

“‘And of His kingdom there shall be no end….'”

“And the angel answering, said to her: ‘The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee, and therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

“‘And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren: Because no word shall be impossible with God.’

“And Mary said: ‘Behold the hand­maid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word.’ And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:26-35)

Mary humbly and obediently accepted God’s plan and the event marked the beginning of her role as the mother of Jesus. Saint Augustine wrote, “He chose the mother he had created; he created the mother he had chosen” (Sermon 69, 3, 4), and this event fulfills a prophecy from the Old Testament about the coming of the Messiah.

The Annunciation is one of the most important feasts in the Catholic liturgical calendar. It is celebrated on March 25th, nine months before Christmas, and is considered the beginning of the salvation of the world.

This is a moment of reflection and prayer for all Catholics, as it represents the humility, obedience, and trust in God that should be followed in everyday life. Many people take this opportunity to consecrate themselves to Mary according to the 33-day method of St. Louis Marie Montfort, with this being the final day of consecration.