The Annunciation of the Lord
March 25
History:
The feast of the Annunciation of the Lord celebrates the angel Gabriel's appearance to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-38), his announcement that the Blessed Virgin had been chosen to be the Mother of Our Lord, and Mary's fiat, her willing acceptance of God's holy plan.
This Feast of the Annunciation is one of the most important in the Church calendar.
Originally a feast of our Lord, but now celebrated as a Marian feast, the feast of the Annunciation dates back at least to the fifth century, and the date of the feast, which is determined by the date of Christmas, was set at March 25 by the seventh century.
The Angelus
The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
And she conceived of the Holy Ghost.
Hail Mary...
Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
Hail Mary...
And the Word was made flesh.
And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary...
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into 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.
Prayer on the Feast of the Annunciation
Holy Spirit, You spoke to Mary through an angel to invite her to participate in the plan of salvation. Though she questioned how it was possible for her to become the mother of the Messiah, and she knew she faced rejection from Joseph and others, she gave You her yes. With the help of her prayers, I want to become fully willing to say yes to my part in giving Christ to the world. Encourage me when I don't understand what You're asking. Bless me with the grace of hearing the call and the courage to trust in Your plan. Let it be done unto me according to Your will. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me.
Amen.
I greet you, Ever-blessed Virgin, Mother of God, Throne of Grace, miracle of Almighty Power! I greet you, Sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity and Queen of the Universe, Mother of Mercy and refuge of sinners!
Most loving Mother, attracted by your beauty and sweetness, and by your tender compassion, I confidently turn to you, miserable as I am, and beg of you to obtain for me from your dear Son the favor I request in this novena:
(mention your request)
Obtain for me also, Queen of heaven, the most lively contrition for my many sins and the grace to imitate closely those virtues which you practiced so faithfully, especially humility, purity and obedience. Above all, I beg you to be my Mother and Protectress, to receive me into the number of your devoted children, and to guide me from your high throne of glory.
Do not regect my petitions, Mother of Mercy! Have pity on me, and do not abandon me during life or at the moment of my death.
Amen.