Because stories of the Annunciation (the revelation to Mary by Gabriel that she will conceive and give birth to the Son of God) have become so familiar, many of us miss the unusual aspect of the conversation between the angel and Mary that is recorded in Luke. Mary's agreement with God's plan was not automatic. She had to struggle through the implications first (Luke 1:26–38).

The account in Luke begins with the story of Zachariah serving in the temple and having an angel appear to him to tell him that his prayers will finally be answered and that his barren wife (Mary's cousin, Elizabeth) will give birth. Zachariah is struck silent by the vision and is unable to report to anyone in the temple what he saw or heard. Only when he names the child, John, by writing the name on a tablet, does he regain his speech.

This story of miraculous conception sets the stage for Jesus' birth. According to Luke's account, when Elizabeth was six months pregnant, the angel Gabriel appeared to Elizabeth's relative Mary, telling her to not be afraid because she will bear a son, and her son will be great and will rule over the house of Jacob forever.

After Mary questions the angel, asking how this can be possible because she has not known man, the angel explains that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the holy one in her womb will be called the Son of God.

After the angel explains how Mary's conception will occur, the angel goes on to report another miracle to Mary that may likely help her to see that she was at the center of concentric circles of miracles — that the child she had conceived came at a time of other extraordinary events.

The angel explained to Mary that her relative Elizabeth, who had been barren, had also conceived and was six months pregnant. The angel then said, “For with God, nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37).

Mary is amazed by this news and travels to the hill country of Judea to be with her relative. As soon as she greets Elizabeth, the babe leaps in Elizabeth's womb, and Elizabeth immediately recognizes the holiness of the moment, as she loudly proclaims the words that would later become the foundation of the Hail Mary prayer: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Then she goes on to say, “But why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to visit me?” (Luke 1:43).

Both of these statements must have confirmed for Mary and Elizabeth that they were part of a Divine plan. After Elizabeth's greeting, Mary replies with the words that are now known as the Magnificat. In Eastern Christian usage, the Magnificat is the ninth chapter of the Biblical Odes, a book that was used liturgically and included in many Bibles right after the Psalms.

Here is this famous “Song of Mary”:

With these words, Mary expresses her sense of wonder and joy at the news of her role in God's plan for the salvation of the world. Because of the way it proclaims God's salvation, these verses have sometimes been called “The Gospel of Mary.”