The Diocese of Winona-Rochester recently observed the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, which celebrates Mary saying "yes" to God's plan for her to bear Jesus.

"Mary said, 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word,'" the diocese said in a recent Facebook post. "Today we celebrate the Annunciation of the Lord. Respond to God's invitation as Mary did!" 

The Annunciation is celebrated every March 25. It marks the angel Gabriel's visit to the Virgin Mary, when he arrived to tell her that she would conceive a son named Jesus, a report on Britannica.com said. The feast's celebration day is nine months before the birth of Jesus on Christmas. 

The Gospel reading for the Annunciation this year came from Luke chapter 1, a release on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) website said. The passage describes Gabriel appearing before Mary in Nazareth and addressing her as "full of grace."

Mary was said to be frightened when the angel first appeared, but after Gabriel told her of God's plan, she willingly agreed to fulfill the request. Gabriel also told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant, even though Elizabeth had previously been unable to have children. Gabriel told Mary, "Nothing will be impossible for God." 

The Annunciation has been depicted in famous works of art such as Jan van Eyck's painting, titled simply, "The Annunciation," which is housed in the National Gallery of Art.