Ave Maria and the Faery Tale

ANGELICO, Fra. Annunciation (Cell 3).
1442. Fresco. Convento di San Marco, Florence

As we consider the Annunciation, let us think of it in light of what we are studying in Humanities 8: Faery Stories. The elements of a faery tale require journey, enchantment, encounter, moral judgment, and the happy ending. Angelico Fra depicts for us the first of these two elements in this scene, for the Annunciation to Mary is only the beginning of the story of Christ's birth, of God becoming man, of heaven kissing earth. The rest of story will play out over the next nine months until the fullness of time with Christmas. But even then the story is not over. We find in Scripture that evil Herod is eventually judged and that, in the end, Christ and the Holy Family can return from exile in Egypt to achieve the happy ending of this sub-story. 
The Annunciation, however, should give us pause, however, to consider what is happening in our own day. Allegorically, it seems that Herod has not only sent his soldiers to slay the children once again but also that the holiness of the family is driven into exile by the state's attack on marriage. Let us not overlook these things; let us not forget the fact that our Savior stands in the center of a family, an institution that has long threatened the raging heathen nations. No wonder our churches are week and barren, for we have not the imagination to conceive of "Mother Kirk" because we do not culturally acknowledge conception  as a blessing or motherhood as honorable.   

Agenda for Monday, March 31:

1. Pray
2. Latin Proverb: Ecce concipies in utero et paries filium et vocabis nomen eius Iesum. Here it is in English: "Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus." - Lucas. 1:31
3. Continue reading and studying Midsummer
1. Read Act I 
2. Finish Act I Questions .  
4. Review HW:
1. Canterbury Tales Memorization. Wednesday (4/2)
2. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz tomorrow (4/1). 
3. Be perfect.

Agenda for Tuesday, April 1:

1. Pray
2. Grammar Notes: Pronoun and Noun Case Bedford 25
1. Take notes
3. Continue reading and studying Midsummer
1. Read Act I and finish your questions.  
4. Review HW:
1. Canterbury Tales Memorization. Wednesday (4/2)
2. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz tomorrow (4/1). 
3. Be perfect.

Agenda for Wednesday, April 2:

1. Pray
2. Canterbury Tales Presentations!
3. Continue reading and studying Midsummer
4. Review HW:
1. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz Friday (4/4). 
2. Be perfect.

Agenda for Thursday, April 3:

1. Pray
2. Grammar Notes on Bedford 25
3. Continue reading and studying Midsummer
1. Take notes on History and Structure of 5-Act Play
2. Read Act II together
4. Review HW:
1. Finish Act II of Midsummer
2. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz tomorrow (4/4). 
3. Be perfect.

Agenda for Friday, April 4:

1. Pray
2. Grammar Quiz: Bedford 25
3. Continue reading and studying Midsummer:
1.  Finish Act II reading questions
2.  Begin reading Act III together.
4. Review HW:
1. Finish reading Acts III & IV over the break. 
2. Finish Act II & III Questions (4/14)
3. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz next week. 
4. Be perfect.