On the Annunciation (Homily I) · §4 · Gregory Thaumaturgus

Gabriel answers: do not fear, grace is above nature

While the most holy Virgin was thinking these things over within herself, the Archangel settled her questioning with words like these, saying to her: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the holy one who will be born of you will also be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35). And do not fear, Mary: for I have not come to strike fear into you, but to drive the cause of fear away from you. Do not fear, Mary; for you have found grace with God (Luke 1:30). Do not judge grace by the measure of nature; for grace does not allow itself to be made subject to the laws of nature.

Latin

Haec dum intra se cogitaret sanctissima Virgo, talibus Archangelus sermonibus disceptationem eius solvit, dicens ad ipsam: Spiritus Sanctus superveniet in te, et virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi. Ideo et quod nascetur ex te sanctum, vocabitur Filius Dei. Et ne timeas Maria: non enim ut metum tibi incuterem, adveni; sed ut metus materiam a te repellerem. Ne timeas Maria: invenisti enim gratiam apud Deum. Ne diiudices gratiam secundum naturam. Legibus enim naturae, se subiici gratia non patitur.

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About this text

Gregory Thaumaturgus, On the Annunciation: the first sermon, in a fresh English translation. Three sermons survive; this volume covers the first only.

Gregory Thaumaturgus (c. 213–c. 270) was Origen's most famous pupil and the apostle of Pontus. Much else was later published under his name.

The Homilies on the Annunciation celebrate Gabriel's visit to Mary — David's oracle, the angel's greeting, and Mary's reply. They are transmitted under Gregory's name, though scholars generally count them the work of a later hand.

This volume holds the whole First Discourse, from the joy of the day through Gabriel's message and Mary's reply. The second and third discourses are not translated here.

Part only: Homily I

Fresh English translation of the whole first sermon from the Latin column of the Opera omnia print (Paris, 1622) (printed pp.

Printed text used

Translated from Opera omnia, Greek and Latin (Paris: Sonnius, Morel and Cramoisy, 1622), page images (Latin column (Greek damaged))
Also checked Archive DjVu machine-read text (Latin/Greek mixed machine-read text)
Translated from Latin opening (Latin)

Where the prints differ

Sermo I — Long-s and column joins expanded from the Latin face; Greek face left aside as damaged machine-read text.

We have not yet re-checked this work against its source. We made this study translation with AI help. No scholar has yet certified it as faithful and complete. Open Latin on any section, or the Latin source link, to see the source text. It is not a critical edition.

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