Today's Feast of the Annunciation Is a National Holiday in Lebanon

Thanks in part to "one of its most vigorous promoters... a Muslim" — Lebanese sheik helped get Annunciation recognized as national holiday. Sheik Mohammed Nokkari said the holiday commemorates "the best woman ever, here (on earth) and in eternity. She's above all women."

"I felt something in my heart telling me that Mary is the one who is going to unite us," said the sheik. "God gave us Eve, as the mother of humanity. He also gave us another mother, a tender and uniting mother who is our Mother Mary." The article concludes by noting that former Polish President Lech Walesa, who "has a deep devotion to Mary," was in Lebanon for the holiday as guest speaker for the "Together Around Our Lady Mary" gathering.

For reference, here's an article on "what is common to Islam and Christianity" — What does the Qur'an say about Mary, the mother of Jesus? (And some Protestant panic, for good measure, which at least reminds us that "the very doctrine certain liberal Christians reject--the perpetual virginity of Mary--is accepted by Muslims" — Mary-worship unites Catholicism and Islam.) Also not be missed is Fr. Ladis Cizik's "look at Islam, the Koran and Mary´s role in bringing about peace in troubled times" — Our Lady and Islam: Heaven´s Peace Plan. (She did it in Mexico — In 1531, Mary Intervened to Prevent a Clash of Civilizations.)