>I have always thought it interesting that the Feast of the Annunciation
>(same as the Salutation, I presume), which I've understood to mark the day
>that Mary got pregnant, is exactly 9 months before Christmas. Do the Welsh
>think that Jesus was a 6-month premie (sp?)? ;)
>Shannon McSheffrey
>Concordia University, Montreal
The Annunication and the Salutation are not the same. The Annunciation (Luke
1:26-38) is where Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear Jesus. The
Salutation, also known as the Visitation, is where Mary goes to her Aunt
Elizabeth, who greets her (hence "Salutation") and sings the Magnificat (Luke
1:39-55). Luke does not tell us when this takes place, though he says Mary
remained with Elizabeth for three months (1:56). The three months between
Annunciation and Salutation are, I presume, a good guess for liturgical
purposes; Salutation is the day after John the Baptist's feast day; does this
have any significance?
Steve Cartwright
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