The Annunciation and the Solar Eclipse -- Just a Coincidence -- or a God Incidence?

"And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars." [Rev 12:1]

Interesting, isn't it? The Feast of the Annunciation was moved from its normal date of March 25th because of Holy Week and Easter Week. That change in date to April 8th put the feast on the same day as the solar eclipse.

Do you think that was an accident? Or a coincidence?

On Monday, April 8th, Our Lady, with the moon under her feet, will be literally clothed with the sun as she witnesses her presence to everyone on earth by the grace of God who orders all things including the movement of the heavenly bodies.

No, it's no accident and no coincidence either that the feast and the solar event coincide. It's a message and a metaphor! Fr. Raymond de Souza has an interesting article at The Catholic Thing about it. Here are a few paragraphs:

The moon is an apt Christian symbol for the Blessed Mother, as the moon has no light of its own, but only reflects the light of the sun; Mary reflects the light of her Son upon the face of the earth. But the moon is not purely ancillary much less merely decorative; its gravitational pull keeps the earth in balance, as it were.

An intermediary between the sun and earth, the moon watches over the earth with its face turned always to the sun. The moon is not a star, like the sun, a fearsome source of light and warmth. It remains the more approachable light. It is not possible to look directly into the sun – face to face, as it were (Exodus 33:20) – much less to stand upon it. The moon can be contemplated easily, a friendly companion, a gentle reminder that the sun, though not seen, is working still and will return.

Annunciation - Murillo

If the sun is the glory of the Lord coming before the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:13), then the moon is the kindly light that guides us “o’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent/ till the night is gone.” The light of Newman’s poem is Christ, the light, but if it serves as a guide during the night, then it is the light reflected by the moon, rather than the direct light of the sun. The source of light is the same in either case.

Great article. Read the whole thing and don't just think about the eclipse as a significant rare astronomical  event, but a spiritual event as well. God is reminding us that Our Lady is a gift to us, one whose presence allows us to look at the SON. When the moon completely covers the sun one can look without glasses for those few minutes. Mary always draws us close to Jesus and allows us to see the blinding light of his intense love. 

Think of Mary during the solar event and every time you look up at the moon, her lamp. God gave us these natural beauties to remind us of his permanent, faithful love for us. Don't forget to say, "Thank You, Lord."

Our Lady, Queen of Heaven and Earth, pray for us.