Annunciation of the Lord

March 25

 The annunciation (Latin: ad, to; nuntius, messenger) to Mary by the angel Gabriel that she was to be the Mother of God (Luke, 1), the Word being made flesh through the power of the Holy Spirit. The feast of the Annunciation, called also in old calendars the feast of the Incarnation, is celebrated 25 March. It probably originated about the time of the Council of Ephesus, c.431, and is first mentioned in the Sacramentary of Pope Gelasius (died 496).