The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

Yes, once again we have a Solemnity to celebrate! Atticus and I just may indulge in burgers tonight. We've given up meat for Lent, but today doesn't "count", of course. A Solemnity, as I mentioned on the Solemnity of St. Joseph (normally March 19th, but moved to the 20th this year, as the 19th fell on a Sunday) is a feast on a par with a Sunday (and of course, every Sunday is a mini-Easter, even during Lent.)

I love this sane and balanced attitude of Mother Church. Although we are encouraged to sacrifice during Lent, Mom Church never lets us forget that our Lord is risen indeed, and even during a season of penance and self-examination, there are days in which we are fairly commanded to celebrate. Being an obedient Catholic, that is exactly what I will do.

For ideas, see (as always) some excellent ones over at Catholic Culture.

For headier reading, visit Catholic-Pages.com for information on the Blessed Mother.

See this link at Priests for Life for a reflection by John Paul the Great (I cannot resist calling him that in anticipation of a title he will surely receive) on the Annunciation.

For another page that is wonderfully rich in ideas for celebrations, see Women for Faith and Family.

Finally, consider doing a spiritual adoption of a child conceived at this time of year, and in danger of abortion. No, you don't know the child's name, but that child is out there. (It was my friend Andrea who first introduced this idea to me, ten years ago, when I was a new Catholic.) Then, pray for that child through the nine months from today until Christmas day (don't forget to point out to your children that the Annunciation is celebrated exactly nine months before Christmas!) At Christmas time, donate baby items to a crisis pregnancy center (some parishes do this as a parish-wide prayer project, holding a "baby shower" during Advent to collect needed items for donation.)

However we celebrate today, I pray we remember the lesson for all of us that is at its core: Mary's fiat, her "yes" to the Lord. Where am I withholding my fiat? Is there something I need to say "yes" to that I'm resisting? If so, I pray that the Lord will grant me to grace to say, with Mary, "Let it be done to me according to Thy Word."

(The painting is "The Annunciation" by Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1859-1937. There are so many incredible, beautiful pieces of art from which to choose for the Annunciation -- just Google "Annunciation" under "images" -- but I love the portrayal of the angel in this one, as something that is beyond our vision and comprehension.)