An Angel Visits Mary

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth , to a maiden betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David. The name of the maiden was Mary.

The angel appeared to her and said :

“Hail, you who are highly favoured ! The Lord is with you; blessed are you among women. ”

And when she saw him, she was troubled at what he had said and wondered to herself what this greeting could mean. Then the angel continued :

“Fear not, Mary, for you have found favour with God. You shall bring forth a son and shall call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the son of the Highest, and the Lord God shall give him the throne of his forefather David. He shall rule over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”

“How shall this be. ” Mary said to the angel, “seeing that I have no husband?”

 The angel answered and said to her :

“The Holy Spirit shall come upon you and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you. The child that is born of you shall be holy and shall be called the son of God.”

“Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord. ” Mary said.

“Let it be to me as you have said.”

So Mary arose and went into the hill country with haste, to a town of Judah where she went to the house of Zacharias and his wife, her cousin Elisabeth. And when Elisabeth heard her greeting she was filled with the Holy Spirit and she cried out with a loud voice :

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you shall bear. But why is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me.”

An Mary said :

“My soul does praise the Lord,

And my spirit has rejoiced

In God my Saviour.

For he has regarded the lowliness

of his handmaiden : for, behold,

from henceforth all generations

shall call me blessed :

For he that is mighty has done

great things for me,

and holy is his name.

His mercy is on those who fear him

from generation to generation.

He has showed strength with his arm;

he has scattered  the proud

in the imagination of their hearts.

He has put down the mighty

from their thrones and

has exalted them of low degree.

He has filled the hungry

with good things,

and the rich he has sent

empty away.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy;

As he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.”

Mary remained with Elisabeth for

about three months and then returned

to her own house.