Monday, October 4, 2010

Minute Meditations: The Annunciation

In honor of the Month of the Most Holy Rosary, I'm going to post a series of "Minute Meditations" on each of the 20 mysteries.  I'll start this week with the Joyful Mysteries.  These are just short little thoughts on a particular mystery that I hope will inspire you to learn more and to try to pray the Rosary every day during October (and beyond, if you can!).

The Annunciation is truly one of the most pivotal moments in human history.  Imagine!  God became a man for us!  He took on a human form and human weakness and suffering so that we might have eternal life.

I've always been fascinated by the stories of Greek and Roman mythology, but their gods are so petty.  They usually take on human form so that they can seduce some beautiful maiden.  They certainly do not suffer or humble themselves.  Yet our God, the One True God, became flesh through a miraculous conception, AFTER He asked a humble Jewish girl if she would be the God Bearer (Theotokos, in Greek).  Of course this Jewish girl was far from ordinary, yet she thought she was less so.  A humble God incarnate chose a humble woman to be His mother to teach us that humility and serving others is the way to heaven, not glory and riches.

This blessed moment of The Annunciation is literally shouted from the pages of the Old Testament, if you know where to look.  Study the Bible devoutly, and you will see types and precursors of Jesus and Mary throughout the Old Testament books.

Related links:


I found this terrific article about how to deal with distractions while praying the Rosary.

I'm thrilled to be a part of the wonderful Catholic Vitamins podcast.  My regular segment, "Fitness For Faith" starts with the Vitamin A podcast, posted today. (Click on the "Podcast" link and then the "Vitamin A' link.)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Somehow consoling to know that this great saint must have been distracted himself at one time or another. But what is a saint, but one who keeps trying in spite of setbacks? Good news indeed.

Peggy Bowes said...

It always makes me feel a little better when the great saints are revealed to be less than perfect. It's somehow easier to keep going, knowing that our finest role models stumbled, fell and got back up too.