Meditation;
Feast of the Annunciation
by
Saint Alphonsus Liguori
First Meditation
When God was pleased to send
His Son on earth, that by becoming
man He
might redeem lost
man, He
chose Him a Virgin
Mother, who, amongst all
virgins, was the most pure, the most
holy, and the most
humble. Behold, whilst Mary was
in her poor dwelling, beseeching
God to send the promised
Redeemer, an Angel stood before
her and saluted her,
saying , "Hail, full of grace; the Lord is with thee;
blessed art thou among women". And what was the conduct of this
humble Virgin
when she heard so honorable a salutation?
She was not elated, but was
silent and troubled,
considering herself indeed unworthy
of such praises: "she was troubled at his saying".
 O Mary,
thou art so humble,
and I am so filled with pride;
obtain for me holy humility.
Amen
Second Meditation
Think you that these praises caused Mary
at least to suspect that she might be the
destined Mother of the
Redeemer? No; they only caused
her to conceive a great fear
of herself; so much so, indeed, that the
Angel had to encourage her: "Fear
not, Mary; for thou hast found grace with God". He then announced to
her that she
was the chosen Mother of the
Redeemer of the world: "Behold
thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a Son, and thou shalt
call His name Jesus".
Blessed art thou, O Mary,
how dear wast thou to God,
and how dear art thou still to Him!
Have pity on me.
Amen
Third Meditation
"And now, O holy Virgin", says Saint
Bernard, "why dost thou delay thy consent? The
Eternal Word awaits it to clothe Himself with flesh and become thy Son. We also
await it, who in misery are condemned to eternal death. If thou consentest, and
acceptest to become His Mother, we shall be made free. Quickly, O Lady, answer.
Delay not the salvation of the world, which depends on thy consent".
But let us rejoice, for Mary already hears
the Angel: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be
it done to me according to thy word". "Behold",
she says, "the
slave of the Lord, who is bound to do all that her Lord commands". If
He chooses a slave
for His Mother,
it is not she who is to be
praised, but the goodness
of that Lord alone,
Who is thus graciously pleased to honor
her.
O most humble Mary, thou by this
thy humility didst so enamor thy God that thou didst draw Him to thee, so as
to become thy Son and our Redeemer. I know that thy Son refuses thee nothing
that thou askest Him. Ask Him to forgive all the offenses which I have
committed against Him; ask Him to grant me perseverance until death. In
fine, recommend my soul to Him; for thy recommendations meet with no denial
from a Son Who loves thee so much. O Mary, thou hast to save me; thou art my
hope. Amen
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