The Annunciation of Fra Angelico
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March 23, 2011 Dear Family of Mary! "Courage, little children! I decided to lead you on the way of holiness. Renounce sin and set out on the way of salvation, the way which my Son has chosen. Through each of your tribulations and sufferings God will find the way of joy for you. Therefore, little children, pray. We are close to you with our love. Thank you for having responded to my call." (March 25, 2006) In this wonderful message from 2006, given on the Feast of the Annunciation, Our Lady begins with this great exhortation: "Courage, little children!" Our Lady knows about courage! We may not often think of it, but she had tons of courage! She was a young girl, from a rural, sheltered life, who would never have dreamed of being called to be the Mother of God. But...she was free of fear and she said yes! If only we could all be like her! I want to begin to prepare for the Feast of the Annunciation today! This poem by Denise Levertov may help us to ponder this wonderful mystery. Notice she also recognizes the courage of Our Lady!
Poem: The Annunciation by Denise Levertov
We know the scene: the room, variously furnished,
almost always a lecturn, a book; always
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the tall lily. Arrived on solemn grandeur of great wings,
the angelic ambassador, standing or hovering,
whome she acknowledges, a guest. But we are told of meek obedience. No one mentions
courage
The engendering Spirit
did not enter her without consent. God waited. She was free
to accept or refuse, choice
integral to humanness. Aren't there annunciations
of one sort or another in most lives?
Some unwillingly undertake great destinies,
enact them in sullen pride,
uncomprehending.
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More often those moments
when roads of light and storm
open from darkness in a man or woman,
are turned away from
in dread, in a wave of weakness, in despair
and with relief.
Ordinary lives continue. God does not smite them.
But the gates close, the pathway vanishes.. She had been a child who played, ate, spelt
like any other child - but unlike others,
wept only for pity, laughed
in joy not triumpf.
Compassion and intelligence
fused in her, indivisible. Called to a destiny more momentous
than any in all of Time,
she did not quail,
only asked a simple, "How can this be?"
and gravely, courteously,
took to heart the angel's reply,
perceiving instantly
the astounding ministry she was offered: to bear in her womb
Infinite weight and lightness; to carry
in hidden, finite inwardness,
nine months of Eternity; to contain
in slender vase of being,
the sum of power -
in narrow flesh,
the sum of light. Then bring to birth,
push out into air, a Man-child
needing, like any other,
milk and love - but who was God.
(http://predmore.blogspot.com/2010/03/poem-annunciation-by-denise-levertov.html )
In Jesus and Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan
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