Christ conceived at the moment of the Annunciation?

[Searching1]

What exactly is the doctrine – that Jesus Christ was conceived at the words of the angel (“Hail, thou who art full of grace; the Lord is with thee”) or at Mary’s words/giving of her consent (“Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be unto me according to thy word”)?

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

The consent one.

 

[The27thPsalm]

It happened immediately after her acceptance. The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich

 

[Beryllos]

I would go by what it says in Luke 1. It doesn’t say exactly when, so we cannot say which moment, although we could bracket the time.

The angel spoke of something to happen in the future: “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”

Mary replied “May it be done to me according to your word.”

Finally, we know that Jesus was present in Mary’s womb when she visited Elizabeth.

So the conception took place some time between Mary’s consent and her visit with Elizabeth. That’s all we know from Luke’s account.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

I have to imagine that some Eastern Christians would ask us why we are even asking such a question.

 

[paperwight]

Christ was conceived March 25th.

My understanding is that the date of the Incarnation was deemed to be March 25th to fit in with His birth being deemed to be Dec.25th i.e. nine months difference.

However, we are not told in the Scriptures when His birth was. So we can’t be definite and say when the Incarnation was.

 

[Searching1]

Do you mean you think they would ask why we do not know already? Or that they would ask “why do you want to know?”

 

[HomeschoolDad]

Do you mean you think they would ask why we do not know already? Or that they would ask “why do you want to know?”

The latter. I realize that Eastern Christians will take us to task when we attempt to “nail down” the precise instant at which the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ — I would reply that it is very helpful in avoiding artolatry (the worship of created things, which the bread and wine certainly are before consecration).

I have even wondered what happens if a priest is consecrating the host, says “This is my bo…”, and then drops dead of a heart attack before he can get the entire word “body” out of his mouth. According to a Latin/Roman understanding of the sacrament, the host would remain mere bread.