God Became Man: Saints’ Words on the Feast of the Annunciation and Incarnation

“And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women…Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end…The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God…[N]o word shall be impossible with God. And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word.” —Luke 1:28-38

Today, March 25, is the feast of the Annunciation. St. Luke recounted the scene in the above passage, describing that moment so key that we still count all history from the year it happened—the moment when God deigned in His infinite mercy to become man in the womb of the Virgin Mary to save us from our sins. I would like to share a few quotes from saints and theologians that provide beautiful inspiration and food for meditation on this feast day.

“Him whom the heavens cannot contain, the womb of one woman bore. She ruled our Ruler; she carried Him in whom we are; she gave milk to our Bread.” —St. Augustine

“When the angel appeared to Mary, God was announcing this love for the new humanity. It was the beginning of a new earth, and Mary became ‘a flesh-girt Paradise to be gardened by the new Adam.’ As in the first garden Eve brought destruction, so in the garden of her womb, Mary would now bring Redemption.” —Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

“Mary showed complete trust in God by agreeing to be used as an instrument in his plan of salvation. She trusted him in spite of her nothingness because she knew he who is mighty could do great things in her and through her. Once she said ‘yes’ to him, she never doubted. She was just a young woman, but she belonged to God and nothing nor anyone could separate her from him.” – St. Teresa of Calcutta

”The angel departs; [Mary’s] mission remains, and with it matures her inner closeness to God, a closeness that in her heart she is able to see and touch.” —Pope Benedict XVI