Annunciation

The feast of the Annunciation is such a "feel good day" and curiously appropriate at this stage in our Lenten walk. As this is my blog and I don't have to be beholden to anyone I will openly say that I am a big fan of Marian devotion - not the silly over-the-top miss Jesus out sort but the more down to earth day to day Mary is part of the picture sort.

Mary said yes - without someone saying yes we would be in trouble - and it was Mary. Perhaps at times I have a romanticized view of this moment - but I do not have a rose tinted perspective of what she went through later as she watched the last days of her son's life unfold. I cannot even begin to imagine how she even made it through that.

For me, somehow, the veil between heaven and earth is thinner around Mary and it those prayers which include asking her to pray for us especially seem to make sense to me. I realize that devotion to saints can be a tricky subject for some people but for others it can be a way of broadening our experience and walk with Christ by walking with those who have trodden this path before us.

And who more extraordinary to walk with that Our Lady, who more amazing to pray with - "Behold," she says," "the handmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me according to thy word."

"We are," we reply, "the servants of the Lord. Let your Word be made alive in us each day."

Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee,
Blessed art thou amongst women
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.