Annunciation of the Lord by Fra Angelico
The Church celebrates the joyful proclamation of the Archangel Gabriel to Mary that she has been chosen by God to be the mother of the Divine Word.
However, what is more importantly remembered is the response of Mary to the angelic proclamation. Mary, responded with, "Fiat!" This unconditional surrender of Mary's will to the power of God is often mistaken by some as the confused response of a young teenage virgin. There is nothing further from the truth. While Mary was young in chronological age, she was indeed living and growing in the prayerful understanding of her ministry to become the Mother of God.
Celebrating the Feast of the Annunciation compels all Catholics to emulate the openness of mind and spirit that surrounded Mary's freely proclaimed, "Your will be done!," to the Father.
