I have chosen to comment on this prayer, in the first place because it is a full commentary in itself on the central mystery of our Faith, the Incarnation, and on the Annunciation, the first mystery of the Rosary, whose feast we celebrate on Tuesday. Secondly, it was chosen because it is a little summary of our contemplative vocation which has its landmarks, its peak moments in our lives, as it will have for one of us n Tuesday.
There is a strongly Trinitarian character to the prayer. In the mystery of the Annunciation Mary discovers herself as daughter of the eternal Father, Mother and helpmate of the Son, temple or house of the Holy Spirit, domus divinitatis effecta. All this is revealed progressively in a very short space of time by the Angel Gabriel, himself a messenger of light. It is revealed through Mary’s simple questions and attitudes – How can this be? Be it done to me. She receives enlightenment as a consequence of her obedient attitude, her reverence before mystery, her receptivity. Balthasar speaks of the Church but it could just as well be said of Mary, when he writes: “She offers herself as the place where heaven and earth come together. Indeed, she is the very point of contact between the two, the point where earth becomes heaven and heaven earth.”

The contemplative stands also in her small way, at this point of juncture.  Her task is to adore and obey, to open her heart to the Spirit, to hear the Son and in Him all His members, including the outcast, the refugees, the humiliated.  In doing that, she also becomes the dwelling-place of the glory and the light.  Sancti Spiritus luce repletur.

This is, as it were, the end result, and the Collect, after soaring to the heights, returns to the earth.  If we want to be like Mary, if we want to be filled with the glory, we have to adhere, to cleave to God’s will.  There is nothing lukewarm here, no grudging dutifulness, but an obstinacy of love for God and neighbour, a willingness to be used in the humblest capacity.  This lover of Christ clings to His will.  She refuses to go away, or to give up or give less than her all.  And all is done humiliter, humbly.  Adhesive tape is quite a lowly object.  But it works, it is effective, it achieves its end,  It sticks.