The Discernment of Spirits in the Annunciation
The Catholic Church has always taught that the faithful must “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1) before accepting any claim of divine origin. This principle is vividly illustrated in the Gospel of Luke, where the Blessed Virgin Mary both questions the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation and then travels to confirm Elizabeth’s pregnancy. Both actions model a prudent, faith‑filled discernment that guards the Church against deception. History shows that when believers neglect this discernment, heresies arise and the faith is endangered. Mary’s Question as a Model of Discernment When the angel announced that she would conceive “by the power of … Continue