What is the Annunciation?

Answer

The term “annunciation” originates from a Latin word that means “to bring news.” In the Latin Vulgate, the expression “annuntiatio navitatis Christi” (“the announcement of Christ’s birth”) is used to describe the message delivered by the angel Gabriel to the virgin Mary regarding the forthcoming birth of Christ. The Annunciation conveyed news of the Incarnation.

In Luke 1:26–39, Gabriel appears at the residence of a young Jewish woman named Mary, who is a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, to inform her that she will conceive through the Holy Spirit. Upon the child’s birth, she is to name Him Jesus, a name signifying “The Lord Is Salvation.” The angel also informs Mary that the child she will bear will reign over an eternal kingdom and will be known as “the Son of the Highest.”

The Annunciation holds significance for Christians as it foretells the birth of the Savior, heralding the grace and peace that would be bestowed upon humanity by God through Jesus Christ. During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the Annunciation was a prominent theme in Christian art, often depicting the virgin and the angel as symbols of purity and grace. The Feast of the Annunciation is commemorated on March 25 by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, focusing on Mary as the Theotokos, or “mother of God.” It is regrettable that Gabriel’s proclamation, exalting Jesus as “the holy one” and “the Son of God” «And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. », (Luke 1:35), is sometimes interpreted as an opportunity to elevate Mary, the humble recipient of God’s grace (Luke 1:30,46-48).

Interestingly, the Qur’an also mentions the Annunciation, although it excludes references to Jesus’ identity as God’s Son and His eternal kingdom, portraying Him solely as an esteemed individual who will be close to Allah in both the present world and the hereafter. This misconception of Jesus is commonly shared by other faiths. The sole religion asserting that Jesus is the Son of God is Christianity.

The prophecy of the virgin birth had been announced: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14), and “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” (Galatians 4:4-5). Mary was chosen as the vessel through whom the Messiah arrived. The pivotal news that would revolutionize the world was first revealed to Mary in what we now refer to as the Annunciation.