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Thursday March 25 is the feast of the Annunciation,
nine months before December 25.
March 25 is special for Ave Maria. It is Tom Monahan's birthday. The
Oratory is aligned with the sun rise on March 25. In the morning you can tell the
alignment of the sun by looking at the shadows of the trees.
It was at the Annunciation that our redemption began. The Angel Gabriel said, "Hail full of grace, the Lord is with you. 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 call 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."This troubled Mary she had questions. The Angel explained that she was to become pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word"And the word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. Jesus was conceived. Mary became pregnant. Mary was accepting a cross. The culture was not kind to unwed pregnant teen-age girls at that time. Stoning was common. Her life was to be one of suffering, sorrow, and terror. At Communion we also accept Jesus into our body. Jesus says that we must carry a cross if we want to follow Him. In being a Christian and accepting Jesus we should do our duty, accept our crosses and echo Mary's words, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to your word" |