Despite the fact of Mariolatry at the time ofthe Reformation the Anglican Church has claimed a special place for the Mother of our Lord in the Church's teaching and liturgy.

In the Church Calendar she has no less than six days. If you have a Prayer Book near turn to page ix, the Church Calendar. Note February 2, March 25, July 2, August 15, and September 8.

While you have your Prayer Book in your hands turn to page xlvi, Lessons proper for Holy Days. Note the terminology used for March 25, "the Annunciation -of Our Lady."

In Everyman ’5 Book 0fSaints the author says, "Of Mary, the saint to whom the Church owes a deeper debt oflove and devotion than to any other, we know very little."

St. Luke gives the story for the Annunciation, the Visit to Elizabeth, the Birth at Bethlehem, the Visit of the Shepherds, the Purification, the Visit to Jerusalem when Jesus was 12 years old (depicted in the window above the altar), and the subsequent sojourn at Nazareth.

St. Matthew records the message ofthe angel to Joseph, the Adoration of the Wise Men, and the Flight into Egypt.

St. John records her presence at the wedding in Cana (St. John 2: 1).

St. Mark (3:35) and St. Matthew (12:50) record that at Capemaum, "His mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him", and He said, "Who is my mother and my brethren? Whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, my sister and my mother."

St. John l9: l8 - 27 tells us that standing by the cross of Jesus was His mother - "Son. behold thy mother" to St. John, "Mother, behold thy son," to St. Mary.

In Acts 1: 14 she is mentioned, with "the women...and with his brethren" as continuing in prayer and supplication with the apostles.

Lady Day. As noted above, the Prayer Book calls March 25 ”the Annunciation of our Lady" - and it is the Feast of the Incarnation of our Lord, the Son of God.

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