The Feast of the Annunciation

I know it’s late to be posting our simple plans for the Feast day, but I thought I’d list them nonetheless because these ideas are simple and would be easy to follow in your own home.

Today, on the Church calendar, we remember one of the greatest events in all history – the Incarnation of Our Lord!  Our redemption and salvation began with the humble Fiat – Yes – of Our Lady as the Angel Gabriel came to her announcing the great work she was to take part in.

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Read the Magnificat as recited by Our Lady:

Magnificat

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.

(Lk 1:46-55)

Magnificat anima mea Dominum;
Et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo,
Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae; ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.
Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen ejus, Et misericordia ejus a progenie in progenies timentibus eum.
Fecit potentiam brachio suo;
Dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.
Deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit humiles.
Esurientes implevit bonis, et divites dimisit inanes.
Sucepit Israel, puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae suae, Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semeni ejus in saecula.

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A friend recommended this beautiful performance of the Magnificat (in Latin),

J. S. Bach’s Magnificat

Set it to play as you work through the day – it’s beautiful!

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Say the Hail Mary as devoutly as possible today,

thinking and meditating on each of the words.

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How can we ever thank Our Lady enough for her generosity through that single Fiat?  (Be it done.)

Resolve:

Make little fiats throughout the day in our little actions – each one a mini “yes” to God’s request in doing our daily duties.

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Ideas for meals and snacks coordinating with today’s Feast:

Be sure to visit Catholic Cuisine for fantastic ideas for today’s Feast of the Annunciation!  There are some really easy ideas in there!

Since I’ve had sick kiddos, my “feasting” is going to be pretty simple!  We’ll do chocolate chip cookies with white whipped cream on top – white for Our Lady’s purity and her sweet “Yes”!

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Study the above art print by Fra Angelico –

• Note Our Lady’s posture
• Can you identify the words the saintly painter shows coming out of the Angel Gabriel’s mouth?  
  • Gabriel says to Mary “The Holy Spirit shall come over thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee.”
  • And Mary’s response, “Behold the handmaiden of the Lord; be it done unto me according to thy word.”
• Can you spot the Holy Spirit?
• Who is that walking on the hill in the background of the painting?  Outside the fenced wall of the garden?
  • St. Michael escorting – by sword – Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden.  Note that their setting is barren, while Our Lady is in a fertile, blooming garden.
• Do you see the little fence around the garden – there on the left side of the painting?
  • Read about Our Lady, sometimes referred to as A Garden Enclosed.

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May you all have a blessed Feast Day, celebrating the sweet Fiat of Our Lady and the great Incarnation of Our Lord!