Luke 1.26-38 is known in Christendom as “The Annunciation”.  A prominent elderly Jewess named Elizabeth, who had been barren her whole life, was 6 months along when an angel visited her young cousin Mary.  The angel announced, “You will conceive and give birth to a son!”  Mary was a little upset by this.  “Wait!  What?” she protested.  “I’m still a virgin!”  (See Luke 1.34.)  There was no doubt strange things were happening!

The angel assured her that all was well.  She wouldn’t lose her virginity.  Yet she would give birth to a baby boy who would be called the Son of God.  These words terrified Mary, but she gulped and maintained her composure (see Luke 1.38).

Mary said to the angel:
Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord;
Let it be done to me, according to your word.

Dixit Maria ad angelum:
Ecce ancilla Domini,
fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.

Composer Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612) put these remarkable words of Mary to music centuries ago.  And the Choir will sing them Christmas Eve in the Sanctuary.