I Bring You Great Tidings

My favorite painting is The Annunciation by Fra Angelico from the fifteenth century, and when I first saw it over twenty-five years ago, I had just graduated from college and was traveling through Europe with two girlfriends. The painting hangs at San Marco, in Florence, and I can still remember how much it affected me when I literally "came upon it" wandering those ancient halls. Many years later, I visited the painting again and was struck not only by its beauty but by the resignation of its main subject, Mary, as she receives news from the Angel Gabriel that she is to bear the son of God. I wrote about the painting and my response to it and the essay was published in an online journal called Slow Trains. 

At Christmas, I often think of Mary and the Annunciation and what I perceive to be her resignation. I think about waiting for a baby to come, both that ancient story of the baby Jesus but also of my own three babies. I think about waiting and expectation and the dimming of expectation, of the sadness inherent in Mary's waiting and resignation. I think about waiting for Sophie to stop having seizures, waiting for her to stop having this seizure. I think of my resignation in waiting and how it pales in comparison to Mary's when that strange and terrible Angel came bearing that strange and terrible news. I think of how, at best, my own resignation comes purely from Grace.

Waiting and resignation and acceptance and peace.

Yesterday, Renee at Circling My Head posted this Christmas song. I'd never heard it but felt it was perfect for my Christmas Eve post.

The Angel Gabriel from heaven came
His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flames
"Oh hail" has said he to Holy Maiden Mary
(to holy mary)
Most highly favoured maid Gloria
(Most highly favoured maid Gloria)

Forknown a blessed mother thou shalt be
For generations loan and honnaly
Thy son shall be Imanuel th'as years forsawt =(forseen)
Most highly favoured maid Gloria
(Most highly favoured maid Gloria)

The gentle Mary neatly bowed the head
"To me, be as it pleaseth God" she said
"My soul shall whole and magnify this holy maid"
Most highly favoured maid Gloria
(Most highly favoured maid Gloria)

Of her Imanuel, the Christ was crossed
His Bethlehem all honor Christmas ghost
As everyone through out the world will Heaven save
Most highly favoured maid Gloria
(Most highly favoured maid Gloria)

Have a blessed Christmas Eve!