As sometimes happens in the Church’s liturgical calendar, one feast is either replaced or transferred to another date on account of a more important commemoration. For example, when a saint’s feast day falls on a Sunday, the Sunday is observed rather than the saint’s feast day.

This year, Good Friday falls on March 25, a day when we would usually celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation. It is logical to celebrate the Annunciation on March 25 since this date is nine months before Christmas Day on Dec. 25. When the archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the virgin mother of the Son of God, Mary gave her assent, proclaiming: “Let it be done to me according to your word.” Immediately, “the Word became flesh.” By the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary conceived Jesus in her womb. And, like any other mother, after Jesus developed for nine months inside her womb, Mary gave birth to the Christ child.

This year, because Good Friday falls exactly on March 25, the Annunciation is transferred to April 4, the first Monday after the octave of Easter. Yet, the fact that Good Friday falls on the Annunciation is a poignant reminder of the virgin mother’s indispensable role, not only in the birth of Jesus, but also in our Lord’s death and Resurrection. We are reminded of the intertwining of the Son’s mission with that of his mother. In assenting to become the mother of Jesus, Mary knew that her life would be filled with much joy, but also much sorrow. In assenting to take on the mission bestowed on him by the Father, Jesus knew that he would experience joy, but also great suffering. At the cross, Jesus and Mary’s suffering come together.

In the Gospel of John, we read of Jesus’ last words to his mother: “Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother: ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” (Jn. 19:25-27)

Reflecting on this passage, Pope John Paul II explains: “Undoubtedly, we find here an expression of the Son’s particular solicitude for his mother, whom he is leaving in such great sorrow. And yet the ‘testament of Christ’s cross says more. Jesus highlights a new relationship between mother and Son....The mother of Christ...is given as mother to every individual and to all mankind. At the foot of the cross is John, ‘the disciple whom he loved.’ But it is not he alone. Following tradition, the Vatican II Council does not hesitate to call Mary ‘the Mother of Christ and mother of mankind’: since she ‘belongs to the offspring of Adam she is one with all human beings....Indeed she is ‘clearly the mother of the members of Christ...since she cooperated out of love so that there might be born in the Church the faithful.’” (Mother of the Redeemer, 23)

At the cross, therefore, Mary’s motherhood is expanded. She becomes not only the Mother of the Redeemer, but also the Mother of the Church. Through Jesus dying, the Church is born. Herein lies the connection between the fruitfulness of the Annunciation and the infinite grace of the cross. Drawing a link between the Annunciation and Pentecost, the Holy Father notes: “And so, in the redemptive economy of grace, brought about through the action of the Holy Spirit, there is a unique correspondence between the moment of the Incarnation of the Word and the moment of the birth of the Church. The person who links these two moments is Mary: Mary at Nazareth and Mary in the Upper Room at Jerusalem. In both cases her discreet yet essential presence indicates the path of ‘birth from the Holy Spirit.’ Thus she who is present in the mystery of Christ as mother becomes -- by the will of the Son and the power of the Holy Spirit -- present in the mystery of the Church. In the Church, too, she continues to be a maternal presence, as is shown by the words spoken from the cross: ‘Woman, behold your son!’; ‘Behold, your mother.’” (Mother of the Redeemer, 24)

This week as we journey with Jesus to Jerusalem, to the Last Supper, to Golgotha, to our Lord’s descent among the dead on Holy Saturday, and to his rising to new life on Easter Sunday, we pray that, like the Blessed Mother, we might accompany Jesus in his suffering on Good Friday so that our hearts might be ready to respond with joyful praise at Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

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