I have to admit it.
I did not go to Mass on Monday. It was only today when I was checking on my Ordo that I found out that the Feast of the Annunciation was moved to April 8 since March 25 fell within Holy Week.
Why it is even on April 8, again, LORD KNOWS WHY?!
We celebrate the Annunciation on March 25 because it falls exactly 9 months to December 25, the birth of Christ. Why? Because it is at the moment of the Incarnation, at the moment that Mary said "Yes", Christ became Man in the Immaculate Womb of the Virgin.
This day also makes it the Feast of the Unborn, because life begins at conception.
This is also the reason why we bow or kneel at the mention of the Incarnation at the Creed:
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
And also during the praying of the Angelus:
And the Word was made flesh.
And dwelt among us.
As one of fave popes once said,
“This is why the Annunciation is a Christological feast as well, because it celebrates a central mystery of Christ: the Incarnation.”The Incarnation is one of the greatest mysteries of our Faith and of the whole world in fact. The Eternal God became one of His created beings, everything like man except sin!
(Benedict XVI, Angelus 25 March 2007)
Why have it on April 8, less than 9 months...Lord knows why?!
FYI: Our Eastern brothers, both Sui juris Easterners and Orthodox still keep March 25 the day of the Annunciation. Just so you know.
Well,because......
ReplyDeleteIn the Latin Church all the days of Holy Week and the Easter octave are first class solemnities in the Extraordinary Form and solemnities in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite. These days supercede other solemnities that may normally take place at that time such as the Solemnities of the Annunciation and Saint Joseph. In such a concurrence as this year, the Annunciation is moved to the Monday after the Octave of Easter. If Saint Joseph's solemnity was displaced by Holy Week or Easter Week the feast would be moved to the Tuesday after the Octave of Easter.
ReplyDeleteThe Solemnity of the Annunciation this year is moved to April 8 since March 25 is Monday in Holy Week.. Also, next week is the Octave of Easter; it takes precedence over all other feasts. The nearest available day is April 8, Monday, that is why the Annunciation is moved on that day..
ReplyDeleteAlso this year, December 8 is Second Sunday of Advent, that is why the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is moved to December 9, Monday.
Thanks for this. Gosh, I didn't even know that the Feast of Annunciation is scheduled exactly 9 months prior to December 25. Now I know :)
ReplyDelete