The Story
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph. The virgin’s name was Mary. Upon arriving the angel said to her: “Rejoice, O highly favored daughter! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.” She was deeply troubled by his words, and wondered what his greeting meant. The angel went on to say to her: “Do not fear, Mary. You have found favor with God. You shall conceive and bear a son and give him the name Jesus. Great will be his dignity and he will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his reign will be without end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know man?” The angel answered her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; Hence the holy offspring to be born will be called Son of God. Know that Elizabeth your kinswoman has conceived a son in her old age; she who was thought to be sterile is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible with God. Then Mary said: “I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say.” Luke 1:26-38 New American Bible, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine © 1973 Used by permission. All rights reserved.