Vittore Carpaccio. Annunciation.
1504. Canvas. 127 x 139 cm. Galleria Franchetti in the Ca d'Oro, Venice. (Source)
1504. Canvas. 127 x 139 cm. Galleria Franchetti in the Ca d'Oro, Venice. (Source)
In the oldest Christian calendars, this Solemnity [The Annunciation of the Lord] is referred to as a feast of the Lord. Nevertheless, the texts do make special reference to Our Lady. For many centuries this has been considered a Marian feast. The Church has traditionally held that there is a close connection between Eve, the mother of mankind, and Mary, the new Eve, Mother of redeemed humanity.
The messenger greets Mary as "full of grace;" he calls her this as if it were her real name. He does not call her by her proper earthly name "Myriam" (Mary), but by this new name: "Full of grace." What does this name mean? Why does the archangel address the Virgin of Nazareth in this way?
In the language of the Bible "grace" means a special gift, which according to the New Testament has its source precisely in the Trinitarian life of God himself, of God who is love (cf I John 4:8) [John Paul II, Redemptoris Mater]. Mary is called "full of grace" because this name expresses her true being. Whenever God changes a person's name or gives him or her an extra one, He destines him or her to something new, or reveals to that person his or her true mission in the history of salvation. Mary is called "full of grace," most highly favored, because of her divine Motherhood.
The angel's announcement revealed to Mary her task in the world, the key to her whole existence. The Annunciation was for her a most perfect light that filled the whole of her life and made her fully aware of her exceptional role in the history of mankind. Mary is definitively introduced into the mystery of Christ through this event. (John Paul II, loc cit) ...
Mary's reply fiat, is rather more final than a simple "yes." It is the complete surrender of her will to what God wanted of her at that moment, and for the whole of her life. This fiat will reach its culmination on Calvary, when standing beside the Cross, she offers herself up with her son.
The "yes" that God asks of each one of us, whatever our path in life may be, lasts for the whole of our lives. Sometimes it will be our reply to small occurrences, at other times to larger, more important events. It will be our reply to each call that God makes and which leads successively to the next. Our "yes" to Jesus leads us not to think too much about ourselves. It should lead us to keep our hearts alert so that we may be attentive to the voice of God, who tells us who belong to him which is the path He has traced out for us. As we lovingly respond to his call we should see how our freedom and God's Will mingle in perfect harmony.
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