Annunciation of Mary
Understanding the First Joyful Mystery of the Rosary
Introduction
The Annunciation of Mary, also called the Angelic Salutation, is a foundational event in Christian history, celebrated each year on March 25. It commemorates the moment when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, a virgin from the house of David, and announced that she would conceive Jesus, the Son of God. This event is described in the Gospel of Luke, where Gabriel greeted Mary with the words, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you.”
Though perplexed by the angel’s message, Mary listened as Gabriel explained that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her, and her child would be the promised Christ, the Savior of the world. Gabriel assured her, “With God, nothing will be impossible.” In faith, Mary responded with her fiat: “Let it be done to me according to your word.”
The Annunciation is celebrated as a holy feast in the catholic church and highlights Mary’s essential role in God’s plan of salvation. Her acceptance of God’s word made her the mother of Jesus and opened the way for redemption. Known in Greek as “Evangelismos,” meaning “good news,” the Annunciation has been upheld by Church councils and honored by countless saints, such as St. John Damascene. Each year, this feast reminds the faithful of Mary’s obedience and trust in God, a model for all to follow in faith and love for the Lord.
Scripture of the Annunciation
And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the most-High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob forever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end.
And Mary said to the angel “How shall this be done because I know not man?” And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most-High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren: Because no word shall be impossible with God.
And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:26-38)
Additional Scripture
These passages shed light on the Annunciation and the mystery of the Incarnation:
- The birth of Jesus announced to Joseph (Mt 1:18–25, Douay-Rheims)
- “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14, Douay-Rheims)
- “God sent his Son, made of a woman” (Gal 4:4–5, Douay-Rheims)
- The first promise of a Redeemer (Gn 3:15, Douay-Rheims)
- The Emmanuel prophecy: “a virgin shall conceive” (Is 7:14, Douay-Rheims)
- God’s promise of an everlasting kingdom to David (2 Ki 7:12–16, Douay-Rheims)
You may also wish to link to Catechism paragraphs that treat the Annunciation and the Incarnation (for example, CCC 456–460, 484–494, 2617–2619).
Walking Through the Annunciation Step by Step
The Setting: Nazareth and the Virgin of David’s House
The scene begins in Nazareth, a place of no importance in the eyes of many. Mary lives a hidden life there, betrothed to Joseph, a just man of the house of David. There is no palace, no crowd, only a quiet home. Into this silence God sends Gabriel. This shows how God loves to work in what seems small and unnoticed.
Gabriel’s Greeting and Message
Gabriel enters and speaks words never before addressed to any human being:
“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee” (Luke 1:28). He does not call her by name at first. He calls her by what God has done in her soul. Mary has received a singular grace in view of her task as Mother of the Savior.
The angel then announces a child: she will conceive and give birth to a son named Jesus. He will be great, the Son of the most High, heir to the throne of David, and His reign will have no end (Luke 1:31–33). This is not only a birth announcement but a royal proclamation.
Mary’s Question and Gabriel’s Answer
Mary’s question, “How shall this be done, because I know not man?” (Luke 1:34), is not disbelief. She believes the promise but wants to understand how it will be fulfilled while she remains a virgin. Gabriel answers with one of the holiest lines of Scripture: “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee” (Luke 1:35). This shows that the conception of Jesus is entirely the work of the Holy Ghost.
Gabriel then gives a sign: Elizabeth, once called barren, is now in her sixth month, because “no word shall be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). Mary is invited to trust.
Mary’s Fiat and the Moment of the Incarnation
After hearing God’s plan, Mary gives her answer:
“Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38).
At this instant, by the power of the Holy Ghost, the eternal Son of God takes flesh in her womb. This is the Incarnation—God the Son assuming a true human nature. The Catechism teaches that “the Word became flesh by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, at the moment of the Annunciation” (CCC 484). This is not a symbol but a real event in time.
The Fruit of the Mystery: Humility and Obedience of Faith
The traditional fruit of this mystery is humility and obedience of faith. Mary calls herself the handmaid, the servant, and places her whole life at God’s disposal. She does not know how Joseph will react, what others will say, or what sufferings will follow. She simply trusts the One who speaks and gives Him her free yes. In this mystery, a person learns that true greatness lies in saying, “Lord, I am Yours. Do what You will.”
Doctrinal and Spiritual Meaning of the Annunciation
What the Annunciation Reveals About Jesus
The Annunciation shows that Jesus is true God and true man from the first moment of His human life. Gabriel calls Him “the Son of the most High” and speaks of His everlasting reign (Luke 1:32–33). At the same time, he announces a real conception, a real birth, in a real womb.
The Catechism teaches that the Son of God is made man so that He may save us by reconciling us with the Father, reveal the Father’s love, and be our model of holiness (CCC 457–459). All of this begins here, in Mary’s yes.
What the Annunciation Reveals About Mary
Mary is greeted as “full of grace” (Luke 1:28). This points to the mystery of her Immaculate Conception and her unique preparation for this mission. God chose her from all eternity to be the Mother of His Son.
At the Council of Ephesus (431), the Church solemnly confessed that Mary is Theotokos, God-bearer or Mother of God, because the child she carries is a divine Person. This protects the truth about Jesus: He is one Person, the eternal Son, with both a human nature and a divine nature. To deny Mary as Mother of God is to tear the mystery of Christ Himself.
Mary’s yes is free. God does not force her; He asks. The Catechism says that “Mary’s consent… was given on behalf of all human nature” and that by her obedience, she became the new Eve, the mother of all the living in grace (CCC 488, 494).
Key Teachings from the Catechism
A few lines from the Catechism help a person see the heart of this mystery:
- The Son of God assumed a human nature in Mary’s womb by the power of the Holy Ghost (CCC 484–485).
- Mary’s free cooperation is part of God’s loving plan (CCC 488, 494).
- Because her Son is divine, Mary is rightly called Mother of God (CCC 495).
These are not cold formulas. They are windows into the love of God who comes near through a woman’s faith.
Old Testament Prophecies and Foreshadowings Fulfilled
Isaiah 7:14 – The Virgin Shall Conceive
The prophet Isaiah foretold: “Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). At the Annunciation, this promise is fulfilled in Mary. She is the Virgin who conceives and bears the Child who is truly Emmanuel—God with us. When Gabriel speaks to her, the long expectation of Israel quietly comes to its fulfillment.
Genesis 3:15 – The Woman and Her Seed
In Genesis 3:15, often called the Protoevangelium, God speaks to the serpent: “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed; she shall crush thy head.” In Mary, this Woman stands before us. Her seed is Christ, who will conquer sin and death through His Passion and Resurrection. At the Annunciation, this saving plan begins to be carried out in a visible way.
2 Samuel 7:12–13 – The Davidic King
God promised King David that his throne would be established forever (2 Samuel 7:12–13). Gabriel echoes this when he says that the child to be born will receive “the throne of David his father” and that His reign will have no end (Luke 1:32–33). Jesus is not only a teacher or a prophet; He is the promised King, the Son of David whose kingdom has no sunset.
The Council of Ephesus (431) and Theotokos
The Council of Ephesus confirmed what this mystery already shows: the child in Mary’s womb is God the Son. Calling Mary Theotokos protects the faith in Christ’s true divinity and true humanity. When a person prays the Annunciation, they stand with the Church in confessing that the One conceived in Mary is God made man.
The Annunciation in the Life of the Church
Feast Day: March 25
The Solemnity of the Annunciation is celebrated on March 25, nine months before Christmas. On this day, the Church gives thanks for the Incarnation and for Mary’s yes. The Mass prayers speak of the Word taking flesh and of Mary’s free obedience. In many places, this day is marked by special devotions, the praying of the Angelus, and consecrations to Jesus through Mary.
If March 25 falls during Holy Week or the Octave of Easter, the feast is moved, which shows how important it is in the Church’s calendar.
The Annunciation in the Liturgy and the Creed
Every Sunday and solemnity, when the Creed is prayed, the Church recalls the Annunciation in the line: “And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.” Many faithful bow or kneel at these words. This habit is a small echo of Mary’s own adoration at the moment when God’s Son began His hidden life in her.
The Preface and prayers of the Mass on March 25 invite the faithful to give thanks that through Mary’s yes, salvation has drawn near.
Praying the Annunciation as a Decade of the Rosary
Calling the Mystery to Mind Before the Decade
Before beginning the Our Father for this decade, it helps to pause for a few seconds and picture the scene: Mary at prayer or at work in her home, Gabriel entering with light, the greeting, the holy silence before her answer. A person can simply say in their heart, “Lord, help me to stand with Mary and listen.”
The Annunciation in the Liturgy and the Creed
Every Sunday and solemnity, when the Creed is prayed, the Church recalls the Annunciation in the line: “And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.” Many faithful bow or kneel at these words. This habit is a small echo of Mary’s own adoration at the moment when God’s Son began His hidden life in her.
The Preface and prayers of the Mass on March 25 invite the faithful to give thanks that through Mary’s yes, salvation has drawn near.
Living the Mystery of the Annunciation in Daily Life
Learning to Say “Fiat” in Ordinary Duties
Mary’s fiat was given in a quiet home, not on a stage. Most Catholics will never be asked to do great deeds in public, but they are asked, day after day, to be faithful in small things. One can whisper, “Be it done to me according to Thy word,” before starting a hard task, caring for a sick family member, or facing a difficult conversation. In this way, the Annunciation stretches through each day.
Trusting God When the Future Is Unclear
Mary did not see every step ahead when she gave her yes. She did not yet see Bethlehem, Egypt, Calvary. She only knew the One who was asking. Many believers stand in front of tests, losses, illness, or changes they did not choose. This mystery invites them to place their fear into God’s hands, asking Mary to help them say, “Lord, I do not see, but I trust You.”
Welcoming Christ into One’s Heart and Home
As Mary welcomed Christ in her body, a person is invited to welcome Him in faith, especially in the sacraments. Each worthy Communion is a kind of little Annunciation, where the Lord comes to dwell in the soul. Families can honor this mystery by praying the Angelus, by placing a picture of the Annunciation in the home, and by inviting Jesus truly to be served and loved in their house.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the Rosary, the Annunciation is the First Joyful Mystery. A person meditates on Gabriel’s visit to Mary, her question, and her fiat. It is the moment when the eternal Son of God takes flesh in her womb by the power of the Holy Ghost. This decade teaches humility, listening, and trust.
The Annunciation is found in Luke 1:26–38. In this passage, Gabriel greets Mary with the words, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee,” and announces that she will bear a son, Jesus, who will reign forever. Mary asks how this can be, and Gabriel explains that the Holy Spirit will come upon her.
The Annunciation fulfills several key prophecies. Isaiah speaks of a virgin who will conceive Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:14). Genesis 3:15 promises a Woman and her seed who will crush the serpent’s head. God’s promise to David of an everlasting kingdom (2 Samuel 7:12–13) is taken up in Gabriel’s words about the throne of David and the endless reign of Christ. All of this quietly comes together in Mary’s yes.
The traditional fruit is humility and obedience of faith. Mary shows this by calling herself the handmaid of the Lord and by accepting His plan without knowing every detail. Those who pray this decade ask for the grace to set aside pride, avoid self-will, and say yes to God in daily life.
It is best to keep it simple: tell the story in plain language. Explain that God sent His angel to Mary, that He asked her to be the Mother of Jesus, and that she said yes. Show them a picture of the Annunciation, read a few verses from Luke 1, and invite them to pray one decade of the Rosary, asking Mary to help them trust God.
Many people struggle at first. It helps to choose one simple image—a small house at Nazareth, Mary listening, Gabriel speaking—and return to that whenever the mind wanders. A person can also ask Mary directly: “Mother, help me to pray this decade with you.” The important thing is not to give up; faithful prayer bears fruit over time.
Links
Decade Mysteries
- Annunciation of Mary (You are Here)
- Visitation of Mary
- Birth and Nativity of Jesus
- Presentation of Jesus at the Temple
- Finding Jesus in the Temple
- Agony in the Garden
- Scourging at the Pillar
- Crowning with Thorns
- Carrying of the Cross
- Crucifixion of Christ
- Resurrection of Jesus
- Ascension of Jesus
- Pentecost
- Assumption of Mary
- Coronation of Mary
- Baptism of Jesus
- Wedding at Cana
- Proclamation of the Kingdom
- Transfiguration of Jesus
- The Eucharist
Charles Rogers is a resident of South Carolina and a retired computer programmer by trade. Raised in various Christian denominations, he always believed in Jesus Christ. In 2012, he began experiencing authentic spiritual encounters with the Blessed Virgin Mary, which led him on a seven-year journey at her hand, that included alcohol addiction, a widow maker heart attack and death and conversion to the Catholic Faith. He is the exclusive author and owner of Two Percent Survival, a website dedicated to and created in honor of the Holy Mother. Feel free to email Charles at twopercentsurvival@gmail.com.
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