The Fall of our First Parents
Loss of Original Justice

"Let us make man to our image and likeness" (Gen 1: 26). God "clothed him with strength according to himself" (Ecclus 17: 2). "He created in them the science of the spirit, he filled their heart with wisdom and showed them both good -and evil" (Eccls 1'7: 6')-. Man chose the natural and all his natural faculties were injured in the loss of his supernatural life.

The Promise of a Redeemer

Man merited God's malediction and punishment, but Divine Mercy and Love promised a Redeemer Who would satisfy for man's sin and restore to him the destiny that he lost. "And the Lord God said to the serpent: I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed; she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel" (Gen 3: 14-15).

The Expectation of the Messiah

Man, under the sorrow and effects of the first misery, and the accumulation of personal sins of each succeeding generation, looked and wept and prayed for the realization of the promise. All the Jewish history and ceremonial shows the eagerness with which God's people were looking for deliverance. Isaias. says: "Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just; let the earth be opened and bud f orth a saviour" (Is 45: 8). 'IO that thou wouldst rend the heavens, and wouldst come down; the mountains would melt away at thy presence" (Is 64: 1).

The Angel Gabriel

Frequently, God sent His angels to men; they have been messengers reveal- ing to us God's providence and dealings with His people. St. Gabriel is conspicu- ous amongst these holy spirits. There are four known occasions when he appeared to St. Joseph and consoled Our Lord in the Garden. "And in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Naza- reth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; the the virgin's name was Mary" (Lk 1: 26-27).

The Blessed Virgin

After the Divine Child Jesus, none is so great nor holy, nor so efficiently predestinated as Mary. We owe her homage and love through her singular and august position. Those who have a special function in the service of God are ordained to it and prepared f or it. Our Lord was the f irst, and He "was predestinated the Son of God in power" (Rom 1: 4). Next, standing out beyond all the rest of humanity in order of God's predestination, is the Blessed Virgin. She is predestinated in the predestination of her Divine Jesus. She was saved by the redemption as we are, but in another way, by prevention and not by cure. She came into life without sin, adorned with sanctifying grace, living with the supernal life, possessing God with her. This is her Immaculate Conception.

The Holy Spirit in the Incarnation

The Holy Spirit shows us His love and power in the Incarnation. It was He that inspired the prayers that hastened it. "The Spirit himself asks for us with unspeakable groanings" (Rom 8: 26). Desire to consecrate our energies to the honor of this mystery. He prepared the Blessed Virgin and filled her with grace that she might be a fit mother for the All Holy Son of God. He was poured f orth in Our Lord and adorned His humanity with every grace. He guided Him, "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit" (Mt 4: 1), and worked in Him miracles, and appeared visibly to declare Our Lord's divinity. "The heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and coming upon him" (Mt 3: 16). Ask the Holy Spirit for His grace.

Associates of the Missionary Cenacle

This day of the Annunciation is one of the greatest feasts. Its mystery and those connected with it are the subjects of our meditation and constant prayer. Make known in love and reverence its meaning and the wonderful grace it brings to poor fallen humanity. We cherish the Angel Gabriel in love and strive that he may be honored the more, and honor him for his splendid success, The great grace that God is giving us leads us servants of the Most Blessed Trinity into the very family of the Incarnation. We should be very grateful for the grace that God gives us by drawing and inspiring us with a special love. He demands our service in the battle between good and evil.

Devotion and Spirit of Associates

First of all, a profound devotion to the Holy Trinity and an ardent zeal that the Holy Spirit may become more known and loved. Devotion to all the mysteries of our Lord, especially the Incarnation, for from out of this flow all other mysteries, the privileges and beatitudes of the Blessed Virgin, and man's salvation. Devotion to the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, the Angel Gabriel, the friends of the Holy Family, and all the holy souls associated with our Blessed Lord, the Angels, St. John the Baptist, and the Apostles....for the Church and for sinners-- particularly the impenitent dying, and they find success and strength in daily communion and prayer to the Holy Spirit, realizing that as St. John says, "Without me you can do nothing" (Jn 15: 5).

The Incarnation

The union of the Divine and the human is called by St. Paul, "The mystery which has been hidden from ages and generations, but now is manifested to his saints" (Col 1: 26). "This is eternal life: that they may know thee, the only true god, and Jesus Christ whom hast sent" (Jn 17: 3). Our Lord merited for us all that we possess of supernatural good. "Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places, in Christ" (Eph 1: 3). Let us ask our Divine Savior to let us show gratitude and service and great love for what God has done in the Incarnation and the special graces that He has given us.