The Holy Gospel according to Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
Reflection: How many “Feasts of the Holy Mother” are there in our Catholic Liturgical year? The answer is eight. The Catholic Church venerates the Blessed Virgin Mary with deep reverence, celebrating various feast days throughout the liturgical year to honor her pivotal role in Salvation History. These feasts highlight different aspects of Mary’s life, her virtues, and her unique relationship with Jesus Christ. Here are the key Marian feast days:
1. Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (January 1):
2. The Annunciation of the Lord (March 25):
3. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15):
4. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (September 8):
5. Our Lady of Sorrows (September 15):
6. The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (December 8):
7. The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (May 31):
8. The Queenship of Mary (August 22):
These feasts invite the faithful to imitate her virtues of humility, obedience, and faith. They offer opportunities for prayer, reflection, and devotion, encouraging believers to seek her intercession and follow her example of discipleship.
The Blessed Virgin Mary is honored as the perfect model of motherhood. Her fiat, or “yes” to God, exemplifies complete obedience and trust in God’s will. She nurtured and cared for Jesus, standing by Him throughout His life, even to the foot of the Cross, demonstrating unwavering faith and love. That is called Motherhood, as seen through the secular and Catholic lens, which holds a unique and profound significance, reflecting both a natural vocation and a spiritual calling that mirrors God’s creative love. The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary as the ideal model of motherhood, emphasizing the holiness of this role.
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is celebrated today, is a significant solemnity in the Catholic Church. It honors the dogma that Mary was conceived without original sin, a unique grace given in anticipation of her role as the Mother of Jesus. By preserving Mary from sin, God prepared a pure vessel for the incarnation of His Son.
Mary exemplifies holiness and obedience, inspiring all to pursue similar virtues. This feast encourages Catholics to reflect on their call to holiness and seek her intercession for purity. It also reminds believers of God’s grace and everyone’s invitation to holiness through Christ.
Action of the Day: Reflect on your call or your knock of whatever God is seeking you out for. Ask yourself, have I fulfilled that request? If so, what else can I do with the gifts that he has given me?
Audio Reflection:
