On the Feast of the Annunciation, we celebrate Mary and her yes—that yes which opened the world to our Savior. It is a great day because Mary shows us that through one person’s “yes”, the doors of heaven are opened to all mankind. We marvel at the mystery of God, who chose to become man in the womb of Mary in order to grant us life.
From generation to generation, the wonder evoked by this ineffable mystery never ceases. St. Augustine imagines a dialogue between himself and the Angel of the Annunciation, in which he asks: “Tell me, O Angel, why did this happen in Mary?” The answer, says the messenger, is contained in the very words of the greeting: “Hail, full of grace” (cf. Sermo 291:6). In fact, the angel, “appearing to her,” does not call her by her earthly name, Mary, but by her divine name, as she has always been seen and characterized by God: “Full of grace — gratia plena,” “full of grace.” And grace is none other than the love of God; thus, in the end, we can translate this word as “beloved” of God (cf. Lk 1:28). Origen observes that no such title had ever been given to a human being and that it is unparalleled in all of Sacred Scripture (cf. In Lucam 6:7).“
— Pope Benedict XVI
Let us ask our Mother for her help so that we may share her attitudes and dispositions and thus receive the mystery of God into our lives. By her intercession and our cooperation, may we become increasingly capable of loving as she loved.
7 Ways Mary Teaches Us To Respond To God
1. Mary Shows Us Interior Silence
Mary is overwhelmed by the angel’s visit, yet she receives and understands his message through the deep silence that fills her interior. She is accustomed to meditating on the words of the Lord; she is familiar with the divine language and grasps it through deep reflection. Let us learn from Mary to cultivate that interior silence that keeps us in tune with the Lord, even amid our daily activities.
2. Mary Models Careful Listening
Mary listens reverently to the angel. She is not thinking about herself, what she has to do, or what she will have to let go of in order to become the Mother of Jesus. She listens and allows herself to be touched by the words of the angel Gabriel, meditating on them in her heart. Let us learn from Mary to listen to God in silence and amid the circumstances of our lives. Let us ask Him to help us keep our hearts open to His Word.
3. Mary Shows Us How to Receive the Word
After listening to Gabriel’s words, Mary welcomes them. Words bear fruit within us and take root in our hearts when we allow them to do so. Let us learn from Mary to humbly accept God’s plan in our lives. May she teach us to embrace divine designs with love and not desire another path for ourselves.
4. Mary Models Wonder
Mary wonders about the deep meaning of the words of the messenger of God at the Annunciation: “How will this be, since I do not know man?” Her question is not the result of doubt, but of a desire for greater understanding in order to discover the depth of God’s mission. Her desire is to respond with greater fidelity and generosity. Let us learn from Mary to have a restless heart that does not rest until we give glory to God with our lives.
5. Mary Shows Us How to Be Open to God’s Plan
Mary is completely open to doing what God asks of her. This attitude comes from a heart formed to say yes to the little things, a heart trained to think first of others rather than itself. Let us learn from Mary to have that openness and unmeasured generosity that gives itself completely out of love for God and others.
6. Mary Models Trust in God and His Promises
Since childhood, Mary has meditated on God’s promises to the people of Israel. She knows them and knows that He has always been faithful despite the people’s weakness. Her confidence is not blind; it is grounded in God’s actions. She has allowed Him to be the center of her life and has opened herself to His love. In these promises are the hopes and struggles of a people who, though fragile, believed in God. Let us learn from Mary to trust that God always keeps His promises. He will never abandon us because He is infinitely good and faithful.
7. Mary Shows Us Courage
Mary does not shrink from the extraordinarily great mission that the angel Gabriel announces to her. She is afraid, yes, but she boldly sets out to fulfill God’s plan. Although she is only a teenager, she deeply trusts in the grace of God, which magnifies her small efforts and recognizes the value of her yes—the value God gives to the free surrender of our humanity. Let us learn from Mary to trust that God can do great things with our littleness when we give ourselves totally to Him.
Books To Help You Grow In Devotion To Mary
True Devotion to Mary: with Preparation for Total Consecration
Mary-Virgin, Mother, and Queen: A Bible Study Guide for Catholics
The Life of Mary As Seen By the Mystics
33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat In Preparation for Marian Consecration
Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary: Unveiling the Mother of the Messiah
Walking with Mary: A Biblical Journey from Nazareth to the Cross
Behold Your Mother: A Biblical and Historical Defense of the Marian Doctrines
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