Mary Rose Kocab

Many years later, a friend who is a guide for groups of pilgrims to the Holy Land, casually said to me, "Mary Rose, you should come to the Holy Land with me in December." Long story, but eventually, I agreed. The one place I longed to see in Israel was the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth. The basilica stands on the top of a hill, a vast upper church that is built on the ruins of several older churches. I honestly paid little attention to most of it.

Karl Rahner believed that we are all called to be mystics, experiencing union with God in daily life. This challenges the idea that mystical experiences only come in quiet spaces of prayer and contemplation. I began pondering this in Mary's life as we celebrate her Annunciation experience.