About The Annunciation:
The Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord: the moment when the angel Gabriel visited the Blessed Virgin Mary to tell her that she would be the mother of the savior. Mary agreed to God’s plan because she wanted her will to be God’s will. Although she understands little of what this would mean for her, Mary gives her wholehearted and unreserved assent: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
She also discovered that she would play a special role in God’s plan for salvation. Jesus would be formed in her womb, and she would care for him. And she was willing to accept the joy and pain that came along with it to bring Christ to a world that waited for him.
Marking this important event on March 25 is a tradition that has existed since the seventh century after the date for celebrating Christmas was universalized throughout the Church. It occurs exactly nine months before December 25, the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
The Feast of the Annunciation:
The Feast of the Annunciation is normally celebrated on March 25; however. this is a movable feast day: if March 25 falls either in Holy Week or in Easter Week, the Feast Day is postponed to the Monday after the Second Sunday of Easter.
Where did the Annunciation occur?
The Bible does not give us an exact location, other than to say that it took place in Nazareth: “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David” (Luke 1:26-38).
There are two places that are associated with the Annunciation:
The Basilica of the Annunciation in Bethlehem is built over the original site of the house in which Mary lived with her parents.
Tradition tells us that the Holy House was later taken by angels to Loreto, Italy where it stands today.
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