Chapter II.
ANNUNCIATION OF THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.
[Luke 1, 26 — 38. Mat. 1, 18 — 25.]
SIX months later, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a virgin living in a city of Galilee, called Nazareth [1] (Fig. 61 , p. 386). The virgin’s name was Mary[2], and she was espoused to a man called Joseph, and they both belonged to the house of David. The angel being come in[3], said to her: “Hail, full of grace[4], the Lord is with thee[5]; blessed art thou among women.”[6]
Mary, hearing these words, was disturbed and troubled, wondering what this strange salutation meant[7]. But the angel spoke again: “Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God [8]. Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus [9]. He shall be great, and shall
- ↑ Nazareth. See Map.
- ↑ Mary. She was the only child of St. Joachim and St. Anne, and, according to tradition, was presented in the Temple at the age of three years, to be one of the holy virgins who served God there. She, like St. Joseph, was of the family of David. She was brought up and instructed in the Temple, and spent her youth there in prayer, spiritual reading, and manual work; and, later, she was espoused to St. Joseph. Most likely Mary was rapt in devotion, when the angel came to her. That she often and earnestly prayed to God to send the promised Saviour cannot be doubted.
- ↑ Come in. Into her room.
- ↑ Grace. Full of sanctifying grace, and therefore so holy that there is no sin in thee. According to the holy Fathers Mary received as much grace as human nature is capable of receiving.
- ↑ With thee. Because thou art full of grace, the Lord is in a special manner with thee and in thee.
- ↑ Among women. Thou art the most blessed of all women. She was, indeed, the woman chosen to tread on and crush the head of the infernal serpent.
- ↑ Strange salutation meant. Mary was not only troubled at the appearance of the angel, as Zachary had been, but also at the manner of his salutation. This salutation must indeed have been startling, for never before and never since has a human being been thus greeted by an angel. The great angel of God saluted the simple virgin as a servant might salute his mistress, or a subject his sovereign. This homage troubled her, and she asked herself what it could mean, and whether the words were really a message from God, or a deception of the devil [as in the case of Eve].
- ↑ Found grace with God. Namely, the quite singular grace of being, while yet a virgin, the Mother of the Redeemer, for whose coming thou hast so often prayed. Mary had, therefore, sought and found grace not only for herself, but for all mankind.
- ↑ Jesus . i. e. Saviour or Redeemer.
