Apologetics question about the Annunciation and the Most Holy Trinity

[PraiseChrist]

Hi,

I would like some apologetics help from a Catholic who is confident in their Faith:

How did Mary know about Jesus being divine at the Annunciation, if the angel Gabriel did not explicitly say she was to give birth to Christ?

Here’s what St Gabriel said:

And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

(Luke 1:35)

Since the Jewish peoples did not know about the Blessed Trinity at that time, how did Mary know about the nature of the Most Holy Trinity?

Thank you!

 

[jcrichton]

Hi,

I would like some apologetics help from a Catholic who is confident in their Faith:

How did Mary know about Jesus being divine at the Annunciation, if the angel Gabriel did not explicitly say she was to give birth to Christ?

Here’s what St Gabriel said: (Luke 1:35)

Since the Jewish peoples did not know about the Blessed Trinity at that time, how did Mary know about the nature of the Most Holy Trinity?

Thank you!

Hi!
…quite a conundrum… but, not really…

We know that Yahweh God chose the people of Israel as His Own… He Revealed Himself to Israel as the YHWH (I AM Who AM–Is and always will be {or something to that effect}). But we have windows where God makes Himself known… St. Paul speaks of Jesus Being that Rock Who provided Water to the Hebrew… he terms it as the Rock that followed them (providing Life in the desert); we have St. Peter referencing the Holy Spirit as the One Who Reveals the Salvific Plan, through Jesus, to those who were made friends of God (the Prophets); we have Yahweh God pronouncing that Israel heart was rock-hard and removed from Him and that He would keep a Remnant that will be after His Own Heart: that Remnant would Listen (Obey); we have the various examples of special relationships with Yahweh God that a few had–from these the Remnant would be engendered… then we have a tiny window (them bones) where the Prophet is told to Call upon the Spirit so that Yahweh God’s Omnipotence can be witnessed.

There are several mentions of the Spirit from the Beginning of Creation, the finger of God, the Wisdom of God (book of Wisdom actually names Him: Wisdom: Holy Spirit; Wisdom provides the basis for St. Peter’s take on indwelling of the Spirit in those who are considered by God His friends).

Now about the Annunciation… are you sure?

Let’s break it down:

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the** Son of the Most High**. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The** Holy Spirit **will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. (St. Luke 1:29-38)

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the** Holy Spirit**. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the** Holy Spirit**. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him** Immanuel**" (which means “God with us”). (St. Matthew 1:18-23)

What is truly interesting to note is that neither the Virgin Mary nor St. Joseph question the reference to the Holy Spirit–they simply accept that Jesus is Divine because the Holy Spirit Conceives Him in the Virgin.

While Mary is clearly troubled with the salutation “hail Full of Grace,” she has no problem with ‘the Holy Spirit will Come and the Son that is Conceived in you is the Son of the Almighty!’

Compare with St. John the Baptist (at age 6 months or so) and his mom–John is infused with the Holy Spirit and he recognizes God, in the Virgin’s womb, as Mary greets Elizabeth–how can the flesh (man) conceive (be cognizant) of God without the Holy Spirit’s Revelation?

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[Ad_Orientem]

See the article Our Lady’s Knowledge by Fr. Juniper Carol.

 

[PraiseChrist]

Thank you both for the answers, they were helpful.