Feast of the Annunciation

Today is the feast of the Annunciation. On this day and Christmas, we kneel during the creed at the words "By the power of the Holy Spirit He was born of the Virgin Mary and became man", in reverence for the mercy and miracle of God becoming man for our salvation, and in acknowledgment of the fiat of Mary, pure of heart and filled with grace, who consented to bear our Savior, and bring Him into the world. (In the traditional Mass, Catholics always kneel during the creed at these words).

Ordinarily, the feast of the Annunciation is observed on March 25th, nine months before Christmas, but when it falls on a Sunday in Lent, it is moved to the next Monday. Personally, I wish the Church had not chosen to move this holiday; an occasional contemplation of the connection between our Lord's incarnation and passion might be fruitful; but the Church in her wisdom has chosen otherwise.

The Angelus

V: The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary

R: And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.

V: Hail Mary, full of grace: The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

R: Holy Mary, Mother of God: Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

V: Behold, the handmaid of the Lord.

R: Be it done unto me according to thy word.

V: Hail Mary ...

R: Holy Mary ...

V: And the Word was made flesh

R: And dwelt among us.

V: Hail Mary ...

R: Holy Mary ...

V: Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

V: Let us pray.

All: Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy grace unto our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, thy Son, was made known by the message of an Angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ, our Lord, Amen.