Under the direction of Romain Lizé, President, Magnificat Editor, Magnificat: Isabelle Galmiche Editor, Ignatius: Vivian Dudro Proofreader: Kathleen Hollenbeck Layout Designer: Magali Meunier Production: Thierry Dubus, Audrey Bord Text: CATHERINE HARMON and JOHN HERREID Illustrations: TOMIE DE PAOLA With a foreword by SARAH MACKENZIE
oving Tomie dePaola was easy—I loved him before I ever met him. I knew many of his 250-plus books frommy own childhood, and once I became a mother, I found him again in the library stacks as I hunted for the best books for my own half-dozen kids. His books have continued to be favorites in our home. It’s easy, after all, to become enthralled with the antics of Big Anthony, the wisdom and patience of Strega Nona, and the hilarity of a bubbling-over pasta pot. But it was Tomie’s collection of books featuring saints, holy days, and the liturgical year that stole my heart. Tomie’s books contain countless references to feast days, the religious life, and the living and breathing heartbeat of the Church. I read The Clown of God and was startled awake by an unvarnished story of sacrificial love. I read The Lady of Guadalupe —my introduction to Saint Juan Diego and his miracle. I read Francis, the Poor Man of Assisi (whom Tomie called “the movie star saint”), The Holy Twins, and Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland. Tomie’s stories baptized my imagination… and then went on to baptize the imagination of my children. The first time I “met” Tomie was in an online interview on April 18, 2017. The following year, I interviewed him again, and it just so happened to be… April 18th. “April 18th is our day!” he wrote to me afterward. Indeed. Tomie and I developed a friendship I treasured. I made a habit of visiting his home in New Hampshire each summer, and we emailed regularly. I shared the antics of my identical twin boys—and believe me, there were plenty to share. He especially loved the story when one of my twins, Becket, asked if, on Ash Wednesday, the priest could form his ashes in the shape of a B, rather than a cross. I told Tomie, “I think he doesn’t quite understand the point of the ashes.” Oh, how Tomie howled with glee. He had been rather vain about his own ashes as a small boy, tidying up the cross on his forehead with dregs from his father’s cigarette bowl before heading off to school. That was Tomie, the man. Of course, you’re here to look at the work of Tomie, the artist. Well, they say a picture is worth a thousand words, but I think Tomie’s are worth ten times that. His paintings give us fresh eyes. They help us see each other the way God sees us—a little clumsy like Big Anthony, a little earnest like Queen Esther, a little mystical like Saint Patrick. His deceptively simple illustrations reveal the glory and splendor of the world and the richness of a deep interior life. They remind us that the Church is alive and breathing, made of humans who are both deeply flawed and deeply loved. It was only after he had made many of his books that Tomie realized a white bird kept showing up in his paintings—almost on its own. He then intentionally took this unassuming white bird as a symbol, a way to acknowledge that his talent did not come from himself. The white bird also encapsulates Tomie’s great reverence for the Image of God within all of his young readers. “Only the very best is good enough for children,” he was known to say. His art was his vocation—a tireless commitment to fill children with the love of God whenever they read his stories. His folk style, with its clean strong lines, bold colors, and distinct shapes, is layered with artistic genius. He made us a kind of folk art for the here-and-now, a style that echoes what has come before and helps us be here, fully present, and fully awake. All the while that sweet, white, unassuming bird, ever present, whispers to us: Look up. Remember whose you are. For years, Tomie posted a piece of artwork to Facebook and email subscribers marking that day in the calendar. He called it Art Mail. I opened those emails every day, and often thought they would make a beautiful collection. Now, Magnificat and Ignatius Press have made us one. I would like to think that if Tomie were still alive, he would be especially giddy about this book. In this collection, you’ll find vignettes of Tomie’s Art Mail, collected like beads on a string to accompany you through Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and the many moons of Ordinary Time. I invite you to let Tomie’s art bring you closer to God. Look up. Get quiet. Be loved. Or, as Tomie reminds us in one of his books, “Let the whole earth sing praise.” And so it does. And so we will. Thank you, Tomie. sarah mackenzie Spokane, Washington All Souls’ Day, 2022
A Note from the Authors.............................................9 january 1 Mary, the Holy Mother of God.......................... 10 2 Saint Basil the Great.............................................11 3 Saint Genevieve................................................... 12 6 The Epiphany of the Lord................................... 13 15 Saints Maurus and Placid................................... 14 17 Saint Anthony, Abbot.......................................... 14 21 Saint Agnes............................................................ 15 25 The Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle....... 16 Other Important Feast Days in January......... 17 FEBRUARY 1 Saint Brigid of Ireland. ........................................ 18 2 The Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas).... 19 3 Saint Blaise............................................................20 10 Saint Scholastica..................................................20 11 Our Lady of Lourdes............................................ 21 14 Saint Valentine. ....................................................22 18 Fra Angelico (Blessed John of Fiesole). ..........22 Other Important Feast Days in February........ 23 MARCH Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday). ..................................24 1 Saint David of Wales. ..........................................25 3 Saint Katharine Drexel........................................25 7 Saints Perpetua and Felicity..............................26 17 Saint Patrick..........................................................27 19 Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary...................28 25 The Annunciation of the Lord............................29 Other Important Feast Days in March.............30 MAY The Month of Mary..............................................43 The Ascension of the Lord..................................44 Pentecost...............................................................45 The Most Holy Trinity...........................................46 2 Saint Wiborada of Saint Gall.............................47 9 Blessed Theresa of Jesus. ...................................48 11 The Holy Abbots of Cluny...................................49 13 Julian of Norwich.................................................50 15 Saint Isidore the Farmer...................................... 51 16 Saint Honoratus. ..................................................52 25 Saint Bede the Venerable...................................52 30 Saint Joan of Arc..................................................53 31 The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.......54 Other Important Feast Days in May................55 JUNE The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)................56 5 Saint Boniface. .....................................................57 The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.......................58 The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.................................58 9 Saint Columba......................................................59 9 Saint Ephrem the Syrian..................................... 60 13 Saint Anthony of Padua. ....................................61 19 Saint Romuald. .....................................................62 24 The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.............63 28 Saint Irenaeus.......................................................64 Other Important Feast Days in June................65 HOLY WEEK Palm Sunday. ......................................................... 31 Holy Thursday........................................................ 32 Good Friday. .......................................................... 33 Passover..................................................................34 Easter.......................................................................35 APRIL 2 Saint Francis of Paola..........................................36 14 Peter Gonzales...................................................... 37 15 Saint Hunna........................................................... 37 16 Saint Bernadette..................................................38 19 Blessed James Duckett.......................................39 21 Saint Anselm of Canterbury...............................40 25 Saint Mark, Evangelist. .......................................40 29 Saint Catherine of Siena..................................... 41 Other Important Feast Days in April. ................42 JULY 1 Saint Junípero Serra........................................... 66 3 Saint Thomas, Apostle........................................67 4 Independence Day..............................................67 11 Saint Benedict of Nursia.................................... 68 12 Saint Veronica. .....................................................69 14 Saint Kateri Tekakwitha......................................69 17 Saint Hedwig.........................................................70 22 Saint Mary Magdalene.......................................70 23 Saint Bridget of Sweden..................................... 71 25 Saint James the Greater.....................................72 25 Saint Christopher. ................................................ 73 29 Saint Olaf............................................................... 74 31 Saint Ignatius of Loyola......................................75 Other Important Feast Days in July.................76 AUGUST 2 Our Lady, Queen of the Angels......................... 77 8 Saint Dominic........................................................78 8 Saint Mary MacKillop. ........................................78 9 Saint Edith Stein. ..................................................79 10 Saint Lawrence.....................................................80 11 Saint Clare............................................................. 81 14 Saint Maximilian Kolbe.......................................82 15 The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. ................................83 20 Saint Bernard of Clairvaux.................................84 22 The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.....85 25 Saint Louis of France...........................................85 27 Saint Monica........................................................ 86 27 Saint Margaret the Barefooted....................... 86 Other Important Feast Days in August............87
SEPTEMBER 1 Saint Fiacre............................................................88 3 Saint Gregory the Great.................................... 89 5 Saint Teresa of Calcutta.................................... 90 7 Saint Cloud............................................................91 8 The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary..........92 14 Saint Notburga.....................................................93 14 The Exaltation of the Holy Cross.......................94 15 Our Lady of Sorrows............................................94 17 Saint Hildegard of Bingen..................................95 18 Saint Joseph of Cupertino. ................................96 27 Saint Vincent de Paul..........................................97 29 The Archangels.................................................... 98 30 Saint Jerome........................................................ 99 Other Important Feast Days in September..100 OCTOBER 1 Saint Thérèse of Lisieux..................................... 101 2 The Guardian Angels.........................................102 4 Saint Francis of Assisi......................................... 103 6 Saint Bruno..........................................................104 7 Our Lady of the Rosary.....................................104 9 Saint Denis...........................................................106 15 Saint Teresa of Ávila.......................................... 107 18 Saint Luke, Evangelist. ......................................108 28 Saint Jude, Apostle............................................109 31 All Hallows’ Eve...................................................109 Other Important Feast Days in October....... 110 November 1 All Saints’ Day......................................................111 3 Saint Martin de Porres........................................111 5 Saint Elizabeth.................................................... 112 7 Saint Willibrord....................................................113 9 Birthday of Servant of God Dorothy Day......114 15 Saint Malo........................................................... 115 16 Saint Gertrude.................................................... 115 18 Saint Odo of Cluny............................................. 116 21 The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. ...............................117 22 Saint Cecilia. ....................................................... 118 Thanksgiving....................................................... 119 28 Saint Catherine Labouré.................................. 119 28 Saint Andrew, Apostle.......................................120 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.. 121 Other Important Feast Days in November... 122 DECEMBER 3 Saint Francis Xavier........................................... 123 6 Saint Nicholas..................................................... 124 8 The Immaculate Conception........................... 125 9 Saint Juan Diego................................................ 126 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe. .................................. 127 13 Saint Lucy. ...........................................................128 14 Saint John of the Cross.....................................129 16 Las Posadas Begins............................................ 130 25 Christmas Day......................................................131 26 Saint Stephen...................................................... 132 27 Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist................ 132 The Holy Family.................................................. 133 Other Important Feast Days in December... 134 A Note from the Authors The book you are holding is illustrated by many of Tomie dePaola’s ArtMail images. Sent to friends and family as well as posted on social media, these lovinglymade pictures celebrated special days through the year, birthdays of loved ones, feast days of saints, andmore. This collection features Art Mail marking important days in the Catholic liturgical year. TomiedePaola loved tocelebrate. Familyget-togethers, specialmeals, the holidays—especially Easter andChristmas—all feature again and again in his books. In theseArtMail illustrations, we get a little glimpse of what the author-artist liked to celebratemost. Saints whomay not be familiar to youwere beloved by Tomie, such as Fiacre, patron saint of gardeners, and Hunna, patron saint of laundry workers. In these pages you’ll be introduced to themandmany more! Especially dear to Tomie were the saints of the Benedictine Order. He loved the spirituality of the Benedictines, with its motto of ora et labora (pray and work). He counted many good friends among the Benedictines, and he was a frequent visitor to the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Connecticut. As a youngman, he even spent some time as a Benedictine himself. In collecting thesewonderful little illustrations together, we composed short passages about the saints and feast days they represent, telling stories about the people and the traditions being celebrated. Some saintsaremenandwomenweknowmuchabout,withhistorical records givingall of the important facts about their lives.Other saintswho lived long, long ago have pious legends about their lives that were told and retold over the centuries. And, of course, many important feasts such as Christmas have different traditions in different countries. We have recounted some of those traditions here as well. We hope you and your family will enjoy this journey through the year, with Tomie dePaola as your guide! 9
Saint Basil the Great Mary, the Holy Mother of God On this day we honor Mary under her most important title: Mother of God. This feast day reminds us that the BlessedMother is always directingus towardher son, Jesus. Jesus said he was the Son of God, and from the very beginning of the Church, people wondered how it could be that Jesus is both human and divine. Some believed that Mary could only be called the mother of Christ in his human nature, but not in his divine nature. Born in the fourth century in the Middle East, in a country now known as Turkey, Saint Basil the Great was an important bishop in his time. He is honored as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox churches and in theCatholic Church, where he is also recognized as a Father and a Doctor of the Church, which is a notable teacher from the earlier centuries. Basil came froma remarkably holy family. His parents, Basil the Elder and Emmelia, are saints, and so are his sister Macrina and brothers Gregory and Peter. It was his sister Macrinawho inspired Basil to seek a religious life. A great meet ing was held in Greece in A.D. 431 to consider this question. Saint Cyril of Alexandria was among the bishops who argued that because Jesus is both true God and true man, Mary should be honored with the title God-Bearer, or Theotokos in Greek. The bishops, together with the pope, agreed. This truth about Mary emphasizes the unique and unparalleled role she plays in our salvation: through her, our Savior, Jesus Christ, came into the world. During a visit to a religious community she had founded, he was moved to tears over the Gospel. Basil wrote many letters on various disputes of his time. Known for his defense of the faith and stern rebukes of bad behavior, he also became known as a voice for the poor. A good deed is never lost... he who plants kindness gathers love. — saint basil the great 10 11 JANUARY 1 JANUARY 2
A young girl living near what is now Paris, France, Genevieve looked after her family’s sheep. She consecrated herself to God at the age of fifteen and became well-known for her acts of charity and humble way of life, as well as for her miraculous healings and prophetic visions. On Januar y 6 , the Church celebrates Epiphany, which commemorates how God revealed himself to the nations and the journey of the three Magi who followed the Star of Bethlehem in search of the newbornKing, baby Jesus. Many great artists have found inspiration in this biblical event; Adorationof theMagi is the title of thousands of paintings. Be sure to look up a few! In some Catholic countries the three Magi, also known as kings, bring gifts to children. Special In 451, the army of Attila the Hun was sweeping throughGaul (modern-day France), pillaging cities anddestroying farmlands. Paris lay inAttila’s path, and the terrified residents prepared to flee. Genevieve urged them to stay, assuring them that if they did penance, prayed, and fasted, God would spare their city. Genevieve’s prediction came true. The Parisians stayed put, and Attila’s forces abruptly changed course. Paris was spared. About ten years later, Paris was again under siege, this time by the Franks. Genevieveworked tirelessly to provide food and supplies to the blockaded city. The Frankish king Childeric, and later his son, King Clovis, respected Genevieve for her courage and leadership— which was not rooted in desire for power or fame, but in love of God and charity toward others. As she took such good care of the people of Paris, she is often represented with a loaf of bread. treats are eaten, including a round cake with a bean or a tiny toy baby inside; whoever finds it in his piece is king for the day, and sometimes he must host next year’s party. Many Catholic parishes in the United States give out blessed chalk, which is another tradition. The family blesses their house and uses the chalk towrite the year and the initials of the traditional names of the Magi—Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar—above the front door as follows for 2023: 20 * C +M+ B * 23 Saint Genevieve The Epiphany of the Lord 12 JANUARY 3 JANUARY 6 13
Saint Brigid of Ireland The Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas) The daughter of a slave woman and a pagan chieftain, Brigid of Ireland is said to have converted to Christianity as a child after hearing Saint Patrick preach in theyear 468. Brigidwas renowned for her generosity. Once, after churning a great deal of butter, she gave it all away to the poor. Before Brigid could be puni shed for the but ter ’s disappearance, the crock was miraculously refilled. Toher father’s exasperation, shewouldgive away Commemorating when Mary and Joseph presented the infant Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem, Candlemas is celebrated with the blessing of beeswax candles and the reading (or chanting) of the Nunc Dimittis (Canticle of Simeon). In the Gospel of Luke, we hear of the elderly Simeon and Anna, both devout Jews who awaited the Messiah all of their lives. Upon the milk from his cows and even some of his costly possessions to those in need. Eventually Saint Patrick persuaded Brigid’s father to let his daughter become a nun. Brigid’s reputation for kindness attractedmany followers, and she established twin monasteries— one for men and one for women— in Kildare, Ireland. During her l i fet ime, these commun i t i es flourished as centers of prayer, art, music, and learning. seeing the Christ Chi ld in the Temple, they recognizedhimas the Savior and gave thanks. The feast is celebratedwith candles because SimeondescribedJesus as the light of God that would spread to the non-Jewish, or Gentile, world. In some French-speaking countries of Europe, the tradition is to eat crêpes, or pancakes, and to light the candles that were blessed at Mass earlier in the day. 18 February 1 February 2 19
Saint Blaise Saint Scholastica Our Lady of Lourdes In the year 1858 in France, a beautiful young woman dressed in white appeared to a fourteenyear-old girl named Bernadette Soubirous. The lady asked her to pray for sinners. Bernadette was poor and uneducated. Many people thought she was imagining or even lying about the lady. She was questioned by authorities, from priests to police officers, but Bernadette’s account of what she heard and saw never wavered. Oneday the lady toldBernadette to “drink from the spring.” Bernadette dug in the grotto, or cave, where the lady had been appearing. She cupped her hands and drank the muddy water she found there. Many mocked her for this strange behavior, but later water began to pool where she haddug. By the end of the week, clear water was flowing freely from an underground spring. Soon people began claiming that they had been healed by the water. Many times Bernadette asked the lady who she was. Finally, the lady replied, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” Bernadette had never heard such a thing before and did not understand what the lady meant. When she repeated those words to the parish priest, he understood that the visions were genuine, and that the beautiful lady wasMary, theMother of God. The grotto became a place of pilgrimage, and the spring water has continued to flow. Each year millions of people visit Lourdes topray. Contact with the water, along with heartfelt faith, has brought about many physical healings, andmany more spiritual ones. Blaise was a bishop in Armenia during the fourth century, at a timewhenChristianswerefiercely persecuted. He was known to be a skilled physician as well as a holyman. To hide from the hostile authorities, Blaise lived in a cave. Hebefriendedwildanimals, often heal ing them of wounds and ailments. Because of this, he is considered the patron of animals. One day soldiers wandered into Blaise’s cave, searching for animals to capture for sport in the governor ’s amphi theater. They found Blaise—surrounded by bears and wolves and foxes— completely unharmed by the beasts and unwilling to let thembe captured. The soldiers took Blaise instead. While in prison awaiting execution, Blaise was visited by a woman whose young son was near death after choking on a fish bone. Blaise healed the boy, and the miracle is remembered on this day as priests bless the throats of the faithful, holding two candles, reminiscent of the candles carried by the grievingmother to the saint’s dark prison cell. Near the end of her life, when her twin brother was visiting for their yearly reunion, Scholastica sensed that this might be one of their last chances to speak together. As Benedict was about to return to his monastery, Scholastica prayed for God to delay him so they could spend more time together, and a wild storm broke out! Unable to leave, Benedict realized that God wanted him to stay a while longer, and the twins spent the rest of the night continuing their discussion. February 3 February 10 Born in the year 480, Saint Scholastica was the twin sister of Saint Benedict. Just as he founded the Benedictine monks, she founded theBenedictinenuns. Once every year the two would meet to pray and to talk about all sorts of subjects. February 11 20
Saint David of Wales Saint Katharine Drexel Born in the sixth century, Saint Davidwasaholybishopknown for his simple life. He founded many monasteries and churches, and legend says that his preaching was so inspiring that even the hills rose higher as he spoke. On his feast day in Wales, people wear leeks, a symbol of Welsh identity. But whywear a vegetable? Katharine Drexel was born into a wealthy American family in Philadelphia, Penn., in 1858. Her parents were devout Catholics, who set an example of Christian generosity and care for the poor. When her father died, Katharine inherited a large fortune, and she was determined to use her wealth to serve those in need. Katharine founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament to teach Black and Native American children in the western and southern parts of the United States. Within her lifetime, the order foundedand Well, Saint David told the Welsh soldiers to wear leeks in their hats or helmets to identify themselves during a battle against the Saxons in a leek field. staffedmore than sixty schools and fifty missions. Katharine oversaw the translation and printing of catechisms in the Navajo language. She also founded New Orleans’ Xavier University in 1915, the first Catholic college in the United States for Black students. Katharine used her wealth and influence to fight injustice, and to helpvictims of racial inequal ity. She died in 1955 and was canonized less than fifty years later, in 2000, by Pope Saint John Paul II. March 1 March 3 Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, and it is oneof thenames for thedaybefore the start of Lent on AshWednesday. In many countries, particularly in Europe and South America, it is the culmination of Carnival, the seasonof festivities fromEpiphany to Ash Wednesday whose name comes from the Lat in carne levare—“to take away meat.” Meat is eaten heartily because of the coming austerity of the Lenten season. Around the world, pancakes, pastries, and other rich foods are also traditionally eaten, especially on Fat Tuesday, because for many centuries, eggs and butter were also not allowed during Lent. In the United States, southern Lou i s i ana , e spe c i a l l y New Orleans, has themost well-known Mardi Gras festivities, marked by parades, costumes, parties, and special foods such as king cakes, named after the Three Kings, or Magi. Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things. — saint david of wales 25 24
Saints Perpetua and Felicity Saint Patrickwas born in England in the fourth century, when it was part of the Roman Empire. At age sixteen, hewas kidnapped by Irishbrigands, taken to Ireland, and sold into slavery. Alone in the mountains tending his master’s sheep, he spent countless hours in prayer and came to know the Lord. After six years of servitude, Patrick escaped. He walked two hundred miles on foot, until he came to a seaport and the ship that took him home. Back in England, Patrick became a priest. After Irish voices haunted his dreams, begging him to return to the land of his captivity to spread theGospel, he obtainedpermission from the pope to be a missionary to the Irish. Patrick performed many miracles in Ireland. He healed the sick, toppled pagan idols, and built churches and monasteries. By the time of his death, Patrick had brought the Irish fromthe darkness of paganism into the light of Christ. His feast day is celebratedas amajor holiday in Ireland and by those of Irish descent all over the world. The shamrock, which legend says Patrick used to illustrate the Trinity, remains a symbol of the country where he shared the love of Christ. March 7 Perpetua and Felicity were arrested during the third-century persecution of Christians for refusing to worship the Roman gods. Perpetua was a noblewoman, twenty-two years old, and the mother of a young son. Felicity was anenslavedwomanandeight months pregnant. Days before their execution in the Carthage arena, Felicity gave birth inprison toa littlegirl. The childwas adopted by a Christian woman, with the aid of a jailer who had secretly converted to Christianity because of the prisoners’ inspiring example. When the women were led to the arena, wild beasts were loosed upon them and some other prisoners. The animals killed the others, but not Perpetua and Felicity, who ultimately died by the gladiator’s sword. We know the story of Saints Perpetuaand Felicity fromaprison journal written largely by Perpetua herself, making her one of the earliest female Christian writers whose words we still have today. Saint Patrick March 17 Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ at my right, Christ at my left. — saint patrick’s breastplate 26 27
The Annunciation of the Lord March 25 The husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the foster father of Jesus, Saint Joseph is often depicted in art holding the tools of his trade as a carpenter as well as a lily symbolizing his chastity. A just and holy man, Joseph was betrothed toMarywhen he discovered shewas expecting a baby. He was troubledby this when an angel appeared to him and revealed the truth: Mary was to give birth to the Son of God, the Savior. This strong, quiet man (there are no words uttered by him in the Gospels) cared forMary during the journey to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. He led them safely to EgyptwhenKingHerod threatened the life of the Christ Child. When it was safe to return, Joseph settled his family in Nazareth, where he provided for them and taught Jesus his trade. He is recognizedas a patron saint of workers as well as a saint towhomall fathers can look for inspiration and strength. Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary March 19 On this day, theChurch celebrates whentheangelGabrielannounced to Mary that she would become themother of Jesus. “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you,” Gabriel said to Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph the carpenter. Mary was troubled by the angel’s greeting, but he reassured her: “Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shal l cal l him Jesus.”Mary askedhow thiswould happen, and the angel said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadowyou; therefore the child to be bornwill be called holy, the Son of God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I amthe handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:26-38). The Annunciation marks the conception of Jesus in Mary’s womb. Nine months later is Christmas Day! Many great artists have been inspired by the Annunciation. It is also remembered in important, beloved prayers of the Church: the Hail Mary, the beginning of which is taken from the greeting of Gabriel to Mary; the Rosary, which includes the Annunciation among the Joyful Mysteries; and the Angelus, which recounts the story, traditionally prayed three times a day—at dawn, noon, and evening. Joseph most just, pray for us. Joseph most chaste, pray for us. Joseph most prudent, pray for us. Joseph most strong, pray for us. Joseph most obedient, pray for us. Joseph most faithful, pray for us. — litany of saint joseph 28 29
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