March 25: Annunciation and Consecration

On this Feast known as the Annunciation of the Lord, we celebrate the conception of Jesus (by the power of the Holy Spirit) and the angel Gabriel’s announcement of the Christ child’s birth. It was at the Annunciation that the Incarnation began to become a reality. This is to say that, at this moment, “the Word was made flesh and lived among us.” Today is a special day of praise and thanksgiving for all of us.

For reflection: When Mary was praised by woman in a crowd for having produced such a wonderful son as Jesus, Jesus Himself replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it.” And in this is Mary’s true greatness: not so much that she was chosen to be the Mother of God, but that she responded with such generosity. And, right up to the very end, she stood by her Son. In that, she resembles Jesus Himself, whose relationship to His Father is described as utterly “loyal.”

Again, we celebrate today that Mary, like Jesus, said her ‘yes’ to God. It was a historic moment in the world’s history. Things would never be the same again. Let us thank Mary today for her unconditional ‘yes’ and let us ask her to help us to say our ‘yes’ to God, today and each day of our lives.

Let us pray. “Lord our God, the Virgin Mary heard with faith that the Christ was to be born among us, for our sake, by the overshadowing power of the Holy Spirit. Lovingly, she bore Him in her immaculate womb, in order that the promises to the children of Israel might come about and the hope of the nations be accomplished beyond all telling. We lift up our prayers today through her good intercession and in the name of Jesus, who lives and reigns with you forever and ever. Amen.”

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One of many links to today’s Consecration Ceremonies: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicNewsAgency

Another link (to Mt. Angel Abbey and Archbishop Sample’s Ceremony): https://www.mountangelabbey.org/monastery/mass-prayer-schedule/live-streaming

The Consecratory Prayers will be offered here in our parish church immediately following the 8:30am Daily Mass. We will offer them again after the Stations of the Cross this evening.

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