Gospel – Luke 1:26-48
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
148 The Virgin Mary most perfectly embodies the obedience of faith. By faith Mary welcomes the tidings and promise brought by the angel Gabriel, believing that “with God nothing will be impossible” and so giving her assent: “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me according to your word.” Elizabeth greeted her: “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” It is for this faith that all generations have called Mary blessed.
722 The Holy Spirit prepared Mary by his grace. It was fitting that the mother of him in whom “the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” should herself be “full of grace.” She was, by sheer grace, conceived without sin as the most humble of creatures, the most capable of welcoming the inexpressible gift of the Almighty. It was quite correct for the angel Gabriel to greet her as the “Daughter of Zion”: “Rejoice.” It is the thanksgiving of the whole People of God, and thus of the Church, which Mary in her canticle lifts up to the Father in the Holy Spirit while carrying within her the eternal Son.
From “The Great Crusade of Mercy” Testimony of Catalina Rivas (CM-26:13-17)
13) Gabriel brought Mary the announcement that you are all familiar with. She accepted and, therefore, I immediately took shape in Her virginal womb. The first movement of life that I had as a human being was at the moment when she said, “Fiat”.
14) My little ones, contemplate the unequalled grandeur of My Mother. A creature fragile in Herself, poor and powerless, She utters a word, She expresses Her will and with Her “Fiat”, She brings Me into the world, Me the awaited Christ, the Son of the Father, made into a human being.
15) My Mother did not create with Her “Fiat” but Her will joined to My omnipotence carries out a creative act that is superior to the Creation of the world and all that which is contained in it.
16) I made the sun, the stars, the heavens, the earth, the water, and the plants, but all of that will perish in the final chaos. Mary has been called to participate in My creative act with which I made Myself Man; an act of infinite power, an act on which My Mother worked and willed to work like Me Who created from nothing.
17) And so it was. Mary, Mother alone and Mary without help from man, moved by Me, freely willed that I should be born in Her. For that reason Her act is the most similar to My acts, for I always create in Myself, for nothing is made outside Myself. Thus it was like that with Mary who possessed a share in omnipotence, who lent and gave Her humanity to My Divinity.
Each week we will be presenting a portion of the following Sunday’s readings, and linking it to relevant parts of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and messages from the Testimony of Catalina. Pay special attention to the italicized underlined sections. This Sunday it is asked, What kind of soil will you be for the word of God? We hope this is inspiring and educational. Any comments you have are certainly welcomed.
Tim Francis prepared this educational program to help you increase your faith and love for the Holy Trinity and our Blessed Mother. His website is http://YouShallBelieve.com
I have known Tim for many years and recommend his work highly. He is a strong advocate for the “The Real Body and Blood Of Jesus” and the numerous miracles that occur on a daily basis. Both of us are greatly inspired by the amazing writings of Catalina Rivas. Catalina is one of the few individuals in history who personally experienced the “Stigmata Of Jesus Christ.”