MARCH 25th Celebrating the Solemnity of the Annunciation and Incarnation of Our Lord
This is the most important event in the history of mankind, and the mystery on which all other mysteries depend! "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." At 12:00 Noon, (as well as 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.) all over the entire world every single day of the year, a distinct sound is heard over hills and valleys, quiet trails and even roads bustling with traffic. The sound is the ringing of The Angelus bells as the clock strikes noon to remind us of the sacred moment the Blessed Virgin Mary was greeted by the Angel Gabriel and the Holy Spirit formed Jesus Christ in Mary, only after having asked her consent through this privileged messenger of God.
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with Thee;
Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death. Amen V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to thy word.
Hail Mary, etc.
V. And the Word was made Flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, etc.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
LET US PRAY
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may, by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
"The world being unworthy," said Saint Augustine, "to receive the Son of God directly from the hands of the Father, he gave his Son to Mary for the world to receive him from her." St. Louis de Montfort said, "God the Son came into her virginal womb as a new Adam into his earthly paradise, to take his delight there and produce hidden wonders of grace." He even went as far to say, "God-made-man, found freedom in imprisoning himself in her womb. He displayed power in allowing himself to be borne by this young maiden. He found his glory and that of his Father in hiding his splendors from all creatures here below and revealing them only to Mary. He glorified his independence and his majesty in depending upon this loveable virgin in his conception, ...."
Certainly these mystical insights deserve deep contemplation. The sacred artwork provided through Preborn Jesus Ministry draws our attention, perhaps for the first time for some, to the hidden aspect of Christ's life, as a preborn baby within the womb of Mary. De Montfort also says, "The Father imparted to Mary his fruitfulness as far as a mere creature was capable of receiving it, to enable her to bring forth his Son and all the members of his mystical body." Alas, we focus on St. Paul's teaching of the Mystical Body, realizing that "One and the same mother does not bring forth into the world the head without the members, nor the members without the head; for this would be a monster of nature," De Montfort teaches. "So in like manner, in the order of grace, the Head and the members are born of one and the same Mother; and if a member of the mystical Body of Jesus Christ—that is to say, one of the predestinate—was born of any other mother than Mary, who has produced the Head, he would not be one of the predestinate, nor a member of Jesus Christ, but simply a monster in the order of grace."
It is my hope that the sacred artwork and reflections provided through Preborn Jesus Ministry help each of us to rediscover the beauty of daily praying The Angelus prayer and that you make a firm resolution to begin to pray it today. Therefore let us pay heed to the prophecy of St. Louis de Montfort, that states, "However, I declare that, considering things as they are, because God has decided to begin and accomplish his greatest works through the Blessed Virgin ever since he created her, we can safely believe that he will not change his plan in the time to come, for he is God and therefore does not change in his thoughts or his way of acting. Allow this gentle Mother to form you in her womb and depend on her, as Jesus did. Happy Feast of the Annunciation!