# 25 — ANNOUNCEMENT
Today marks the Solemnity of the Annunciation, commemorating the Angel Gabriel’s declaration unto Mary about God’s forthcoming incarnation through conception by the Holy Spirit. Shortly after her fiat and the subsequent departure of the angel, the Blessed Virgin would sing the Magnificat, a beautiful prayer of praise and thanksgiving that is more than worthy of recitation and offering for our Lord.
As we celebrate that pivotal moment in the history of salvation, it brings me great joy to revisit a memory of a brief conversation that I had a few weeks ago with a Norbertine priest. Soon afterwards, I hurried over to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and prayed the same Canticle that Mary sang after the Annunciation:
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
My dear family and friends, it is with honor and humility to share with you that same good news as I received it from that priest. With God’s enlightenment and assistance, by the help of your prayers and the intercession from all the Angels and Saints, I have been accepted as a Postulant at St. Michael’s Abbey. I have discovered my purpose in this earthly pilgrimage: that is, assisting in the salvation of souls through the ministry of the Holy Priesthood. It is a decision not of my own accord, but of God’s will. In about five months, I will begin my formation for that mission which the Lord has entrusted me with. St. Michael’s Abbey will be my home, but a temporary one; for my true home is Heaven, where I long to be in eternal communion with God as well as the Angels and Saints who merrily abide in His presence. Thank you, all, for your prayers, and please be assured of my continual prayers for you. DEO GRATIAS!