"Hail Mary, full of grace." These words were spoken by the angel Gabriel to Marry to announce the birth of Jesus. This meditation will place your students in the role of Mary: listening to the angel, responding and trying to understand. Arrange a quiet place for prayer. Allow some time for the students to relax and focus. Then begin by reading the meditation. Pause between lines. Allow a longer time for reflection on when the words are printed in bold face. You may choose to accompany the prayer with appropriate instrumental music.
This meditation was written by Patty McCulloch and was originally published in Encountering Jesus: 20 Meditations on His Care and Compassion.
Quiet yourself.
Relax.
Feel yourself just letting go of everything.
Breathe in.
Hold.
Breathe out.
Breath in.
Hold.
Breathe out.
Let go.
Totally relax.
Breathe in.
Hold.
Breathe out.
Breathe in.
Hold.
Breathe out.
Imagine . . .
You are in your home.
You are a young girl.
Engaged to be married.
You are doing some housework.
Picture this in your mind.
See yourself doing chores.
Imagine your wedding.
Suddenly you feel a presence.
It is hard to describe.
You are not afraid but very calm and at peace.
Be with this feeling.
"Mary," you hear your name and look around.
You walk outside
to see who is there.
"Mary, don't be afraid."
You seem something in the yard.
Go over there.
The voice continues.
"Rejoice, O highly favored daughter.
The Lord is with you, blessed are you among women."
Listen to these words.
Repeat them in your mind.
What do they mean?
Could this voice be an angel?
You hear, "Don't be afraid, really.
You are his favorite.
You shall conceive and bear a son and give him the name Jesus.
Great will be his dignity and he will be called Son of the Most High.
The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father.
He will rule over the house of Jacob forever and his reign will be without end."
Answer, "How can this be since I do not know man?"
Hear the angel say, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you."
Be with these words.
What do they mean to you?
Then the angel tells you something amazing about your older relative.
"Elizabeth, your cousin, who was thought to be sterile, has conceived in her old age."
She is not in her sixth month,
for nothing is impossible with God."
How are you feeling?
What do those last words really mean, "nothing is impossible with God?"
Respond to the angel, "I am the servant of the Lord.
Let it be done to me as you say."
Feel the angel leave you.
Repeat the angel's words to yourself.
"I am the Lord's servant.
Let it be done to me as you say."
What do these words mean for your life?
Breathe in,
let it be done.
Breathe out,
to me.
Breathe in,
let it be done.
Breathe out,
to me.
Let the words just come naturally as you continue to breathes.
Ask Jesus what meaning these words have for your own life.
Then slowly come back to this place.
What do you want to remember from this meditation?
What does God want you to remember from this meditation?
Open your eyes.
Slowly get up.
