The Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38)

The ‘Annunciation’ is the official title for the biblical story where the Archangel Gabriel ‘announced’ to the Virgin Mary that she was to become a mother to Christ. The episode is found at the start of St Luke’s gospel.

The gospel says that the Angel Gabriel was sent by God to the Virgin at Nazareth and said to her: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.” He then told her that through the power of the Holy Spirit, she would give birth to a son, who she was to name ‘Jesus’. And Mary answered: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word.”

From a Christian perspective, this angelic encounter is understood as a turning point in history. As Pope Benedict XVI once reflected: “The Annunciation, recounted at the beginning of St Luke’s Gospel, is a humble, hidden event – no one saw it, no one except Mary knew of it – but at the same time it was crucial to the history of humanity. When the Virgin said her “yes” to the angel’s announcement, Jesus was conceived and with him began the new era of history that was to be ratified in Easter as the ‘new and eternal covenant’.”

This reredos sculpture, based on the gospel account of this event, was designed by the Gothic Revivalist A.W.N. Pugin and produced by George Mayers. It’s found within the Lady Chapel of the Church of St Peter the Apostle in Woolwich.

The scene is of Gabriel appearing to Mary, who is seated on a throne. She is shown with a copy of Scripture in her hand. The descent of the Holy Spirit to bring about the conception is graphically shown in gold, with God the Father breathing the Spirit into Mary. The lilies in between the two characters are a traditional symbol of the Virgin.

The Church’s traditional ‘Angelus’ prayer – recited at morning, noon and evening – is essentially a meditation on the Annunciation. The opening words of the ‘Hail Mary’ prayer – which is also a key part of the Angelus – are taken from Gabriel’s words of greeting that are recorded in Luke 1:28.

See the full image:

Where you can find this work of art
St Peter the Apostle, Woolwich

Read the relevant passage
Luke 1:26-38

On a similar theme

• From the Old Testament: According to St Matthew’s gospel, The Virgin Birth was prophesied by Isaiah.
• From the New Testament: The Visitation, when the Virgin visited her relative St Elizabeth, is the Second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary.