Mary in the Announcement
# Mary in the Announcement: The Fiat that Changed History
The Father of mercies willed that the acceptance, by the one He had predestined to be a mother, should precede the Incarnation, so that just as a woman contributed to death, another woman might contribute to life. This is seen in a sublime way in the Mother of Jesus, who gave birth to the world’s Life, renewing all things. God adorned her with graces befitting such a great mission. Thus, it is no wonder that the Holy Fathers frequently refer to the Mother of God as “all holy” and “immaculate from every stain of sin,” since the Holy Spirit shaped her and made her a new creature. Enriched from the first moment of her conception with the splendors of singular holiness, the Virgin of Nazareth is greeted by the Angel, on behalf of God, as “full of grace” (Luke 1:28). She responds to the heavenly messenger: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).In this way, Mary, daughter of Adam, giving her consent to the divine Word, became Mother of Jesus and, free from any sin, embraced entirely God’s salvific design, dedicating herself totally, as a slave of the Lord, to the person and work of her Son, subordinate to Him and with Him, serving by the grace of Almighty God the mystery of Redemption. Therefore, the Holy Fathers rightly consider that Mary was not used by God merely as an inactive instrument, but that she freely cooperated in salvation through her faith and obedience. As St. Irenaeus says: “By obeying, she became a cause of salvation for herself and all humanity.” For this reason, many Fathers affirm, following him, in their sermons, that “the knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by Mary’s obedience. And what the virgin Eve bound through her unbelief, the Virgin Mary untied through her faith.” They often compare Mary to Eve, calling her the “mother of the living” and stating: “Death came through Eve; life came through Mary” (Light of the Peoples, 56).To deepen reflection on Mary in the history of salvation, we recommend Pope John Paul II’s encyclical *Redemptoris Mater*.For further study, explore Mariology, Marian Theology, Marian Apparitions, and a Postgraduate Program in Mariology.
The Father of mercies willed that the acceptance, by the one He had predestined to be a mother, should precede the Incarnation, so that just as a woman contributed to death, another woman might contribute to life. This is seen in a sublime way in the Mother of Jesus, who gave birth to the world’s Life, renewing all things. God adorned her with graces befitting such a great mission. Thus, it is no wonder that the Holy Fathers frequently refer to the Mother of God as “all holy” and “immaculate from every stain of sin,” since the Holy Spirit shaped her and made her a new creature. Enriched from the first moment of her conception with the splendors of singular holiness, the Virgin of Nazareth is greeted by the Angel, on behalf of God, as “full of grace” (Luke 1:28). She responds to the heavenly messenger: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).In this way, Mary, daughter of Adam, giving her consent to the divine Word, became Mother of Jesus and, free from any sin, embraced entirely God’s salvific design, dedicating herself totally, as a slave of the Lord, to the person and work of her Son, subordinate to Him and with Him, serving by the grace of Almighty God the mystery of Redemption. Therefore, the Holy Fathers rightly consider that Mary was not used by God merely as an inactive instrument, but that she freely cooperated in salvation through her faith and obedience. As St. Irenaeus says: “By obeying, she became a cause of salvation for herself and all humanity.” For this reason, many Fathers affirm, following him, in their sermons, that “the knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by Mary’s obedience. And what the virgin Eve bound through her unbelief, the Virgin Mary untied through her faith.” They often compare Mary to Eve, calling her the “mother of the living” and stating: “Death came through Eve; life came through Mary” (Light of the Peoples, 56).To deepen reflection on Mary in the history of salvation, we recommend Pope John Paul II’s encyclical *Redemptoris Mater*.For further study, explore Mariology, Marian Theology, Marian Apparitions, and a Postgraduate Program in Mariology.Graduate Studies in Mariology
Desire to deepen your formation in Mariology? Discover the Graduate Studies in Mariology from Locus Mariologicus – an academic formation that combines theological rigor, spiritual life, and the living tradition of the Church.
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