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Learn more about this novena here: The Annunciation Novena.

Day 2 Reflection: Mary’s Creative Inspiration

From Praying the Angelus (pp. 67-68).

Artists, writers, actors, comedians, and other creative people will tell you that they do not know where inspiration comes from. They sit down and work. Sometimes inspiration strikes and something beautiful is created. Sometimes inspiration doesn’t arrive and the art they make is less satisfying.

Artists don’t have to be religious in order to come to the realization that inspiration has a spiritual, uncontrollable nature. Knowing they are not making the art all by themselves is what can make artists humble. Art is created in unity with something deeper, something subconscious and difficult to describe. The artist’s role is to humbly accept creativity and inspiration when it arrives and bring art into the world.

This is how the Holy Spirit, the giver of life, works in the world.

When we pray the Angelus, we affirm the Spirit’s power at work in the world. Mary did not create Jesus, but neither was she merely a vessel. The Spirit worked through Mary, and Mary was filled with the grace to accept her role in bringing Christ into the world.

Like Mary and like the artist, we, too, can accept the creative inspiration to bring something amazing into the world.

What act of creation is the Spirit working to create with and through you today? You do not have to be an artist or a writer to experience inspiration. What ideas and actions are you feeling compelled by but unsure if you should bring about right now? May we have courage, like Mary, to respond to God’s inspiration.

The Annunciation Novena

O most holy Virgin Mary,
to whom God sent the Angel Gabriel
to announce that you should be the mother of his only-begotten Son,
pray for us who have recourse to you.

Holy, lovely Mary,
We give our all to you
What is past and present,
And the future, too.
Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the most blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God.

(State your intention here . . .)

V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with Thee;
Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death. Amen

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done to me according to thy word.

Hail Mary. . .

V. And the Word was made flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary. . .

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Jared Dees

Author Jared Dees

Jared Dees is the creator of The Religion Teacher, a popular website for religious educators, and the author of Praying the Angelus: Find Joy, Peace, and Purpose in Everyday Life .

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