The virgin shall be with child and bear a son

American writer and humorist Mark Twain once wrote: “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”

- 

Mary had known early on that her singular purpose in life was to love, honor, and serve God. At the annunciation, she finally learned how her love for God had to find concrete expression. As the mother of Jesus, she would carry the baby in her womb and give birth to him. She would raise Jesus as a young boy and be with him until such time when he would embark on a very challenging public ministry. Mary would stand beside her Son up to the foot of the cross.