As I walked across the parish campus to enter the front door of the church for a celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, the church bell loudly pealed. It was twelve in the afternoon. Time for the Angelus, the prayer traditionally prayed in the morning, at noon and in the evening. Despite the constant and loud noise of the endless traffic on the Pike, the clanging of the church bell was clearly heard. Its ringing caused me to pause in prayerful awareness of the presence of the Lord, whose taking on human flesh (Incarnation) the Angelus bell heralded.
At each triple clanging of the bell, I recalled the words of the Angelus prayer, each acclamation followed by the Hail Mary.
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD DECLARED UNTO MARY. AND SHE CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
BEHOLD THE HANDMAID OF THE LORD. BE IT DONE TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD.
THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH. AND DWELT AMONG US.
PRAY FOR US O HOLY MOTHER OF GOD. THAT WE MAY BE MADE WORTHY OF THE PROMISES OF CHRIST.
The words of that prayer commemorate the mystery of faith called the Annunciation. This year, the Solemnity of the Annunciation, March 25, falls on the fourth Friday in Lent. On that day, we will celebrate the Incarnation of the Son of God by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. March 25 was chosen to celebrate the conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary of Nazareth because it is nine months before December 25, when His Birth is celebrated.
The story of the Annunciation relates the encounter and conversation between the Archangel Gabriel and Mary of Nazareth and her consent to carry the Son of God in her virginal womb. Truly, she is the Mother of God, the most ancient and venerable title the Church gives to her. Mary is the instrument God uses to change the course of the history of the world. She humbly accepts what God asked of her.
At first, she was troubled by the request, but she put away her fears. She consented: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word,” (Luke 1:38), and Jesus was conceived in her. God incarnates in human flesh. God incarnates in this world. March 25 is the feast of the Yes of God’s saving love for the human race and the YES of Mary to God’s action in her. Imagine what Mary felt at the sudden appearance of the angel who tells her that God has chosen her. Talk about a life-changing moment for her. Truly, the most radical event in the course of world history when the humility of God took on human flesh and dwelt among us in the womb of the Virgin Mary. All done by God to deliver us from sin and to do it as one of us.
This is the great mystery of our faith recalled by the prayer of the Angelus. God in human flesh through the cooperation of Mary of Nazareth. God among us, as one of us, yet fully God. God born of a woman, truly human, Jesus of Nazareth, the Savior, truly God. Praying the Angelus reminds us of this mystery and connects us to Jesus and His mother Mary.
The 19th century French artist Jean-François Millet captured this mystery in his masterpiece, “The Angelus,” which depicts two peasants toiling the soil, paused with their heads bowed in prayer and their eyes closed as from a nearby church tower the Angelus bell rings out. As they labored in the field, they were aware of the Incarnation of Christ and prayed.
Lent invites us to consider how, when and what we pray. The journey of Lent invites us to grow close to Christ, who drew close to us at the Annunciation. Are we present to the Lord who is always present to us? Is there a conversation between Him and us? Pope Francis described prayer as, “He looks at me and I look at Him.” As you go about the day in and the day out, are there occasions during which you are aware of the closeness of the Lord and the love of His mother?
For me, it happened on a cold winter afternoon with the ringing of the Angelus bell.
Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan, D.D.
Bishop of Camden