#Solemnity of the Annunciation

[thepastisalreadywritten]

The Solemnity of the Annunciation celebrates the coming of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary to announce to her the special mission God had chosen for her in being the mother of His only son.

We are continually reminded of the importance of this feast to our salvation in various devotional prayers.

Two examples that highlight the importance of this feast are the joyous mysteries of the Rosary and the Angelus.

The Feast of the Annunciation began to be celebrated on this day during the fourth and fifth centuries, soon after the date for celebrating Christmas was universalized throughout the Church.

This feast celebrates the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Trinity and the salvation of all mankind.

This point of our salvation was deeply discussed by many of the Church fathers to explain to the faithful and to show the deep love God has for us.

Some of the Church fathers who wrote on this were St. Athanasius, St. Gregory of Nyssa, and St. Augustine.

[livehorsesartpage]

"Rejoice, full of grace. The Lord is with you."

Luke 1: 28

[inspiredbyjesuslove]

[bcswowbagger]

Sing now, ye people of the Tower of Anor,

for the Realm of Sauron is ended for ever,

and the Dark Tower is thrown down.

Sing and rejoice, ye people of the Tower of Guard,

for your watch hath not been in vain,

and the Black Gate is broken,

and your King hath passed through,

and he is victorious.

Sing and be glad, all ye children of the West,

for your King shall come again,

and he shall dwell among you

all the days of your life.

And the Tree that was withered shall be renewed,

and he shall plant it in the high places,

and the City shall be blessed.

Sing all ye people!

(March 25 of the year 3019 of the Third Age, or 1419 by Shire-reckoning)

***

P.S. Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God!

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest

And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever

And of his kingdom there shall be no end!

(traditionally held to have occurred on March 25 of the thirty-fourth year of the reign of King Herod I, or 4 BC by European reckoning)

(this is not a coincidence)

[justana0kguy]

2025 MARCH 25 W13 Solemnity of the Lord's Annunciation Tuesday

"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."

~ Luke 1:38

[jameslmartello]

8 Things to Know and Share About the Annunciation| National Catholic Register https://www.ncregister.com/blog/8-things-to-know-and-share-about-the-annunciation

https://www.ncregister.com/blog/8-things-to-know-and-share-about-the-annunciation

[joanofarcs-stigmata]

fairly certain that this will be my final post for queer January feasts, but I wanted to include a feast specifically for my ace Christians out there. Note that I am aware 'chaste' and 'virgin' do not describe all asexuals, but I feel Joseph and Mary's marriage reflects what a lot of queer platonic relationships or ace marriages can look like.

January 23rd: The Espousals of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, Patron of Asexuals, Chastity, Queer Platonic Relationships, and Sex Repulsion

January 23rd marks the Feast of the Espousals of Mary and Saint Joseph, one of three major feasts dedicated to Saint Joseph (with the other two being the Solemnity of Joseph and the feast of Joseph the Worker). Jewish marriages in the first century often came in two parts: the 'betrothal' and the 'marriage'. First, Mary, Joseph, and their families would draw up a marriage contract. Both parties would consent to the marriage, and gifts such as the mohar (a price paid by the groom's family to the bride's family) and mattan (an additional gift, this time specifically from the groom to the bride's family) would be exchanged. After this, the betrothed would separate, typically for a year, to settle expenses and prepare before the wedding feast, marking the end of the waiting period and the beginning of a life of marriage. It was likely during this time of waiting that the Holy Spirit came to Mary, conceiving our Savior, and the Saint Gabriel came to Mary to announce this miraculous conception and virgin pregnancy.

But before the joy of the Annunciation and Saint Joseph's decision to trust in God and fully pledge himself to Mary, the couple had to meet and consent to marriage. Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich, a mystic whose visions of Mary's life have greatly impacted the church (such as the idea of Saints Anne and Joachim being Mary's parents), states that she was shown by the Blessed Virgin in one vision the Blessed Mother's own presentation to the Temple when she was three, where she then lived as an attendant, taking a vow of perpetual chastity. When she was finally of marrying age, Mary's beauty attracted dozens of men, much to her horror. One can only imagine Our Lady's fear. According to another mystical visionary, Venerable Mary of Agreda, the men held a competition for her hand in front of a rabbi, throwing their staffs into the ring before they began. But when meek, humble Joseph placed his down, it sprouted a bushel of stark white lilies. Mary knew in that moment that he would respect her vow of chastity, for he wasn't there for her body, but for his love of her soul. She consented to their marriage, and they were betrothed.

Legend goes on to say that Mary, though terrified that Joseph would find her lacking, told him of her vow. Joseph responded not with annoyance or bitterness at having 'lost' sex, but by making a vow of his own: for as long as Mary wished to remain chaste, he would as well. Their marriage remained unconsummated in the worldly sense, but fully consecrated in the eyes of God because of Joseph's undying dedication and love of his wife.

Was Joseph asexual? We will never be able to know, unless another mystical visionary comes alone with a divine telephone to Joseph to ask. But we do know that, be it his canonical acceptance of Mary in scripture or his noncanonical vow of chastity in church lore, Joseph loved Mary deeply, and sex was not a requirement for that. Joseph is known in the Church as a chaste husband, content to live without sex in his marriage for the rest of his life, living instead as Mary's celibate life partner. It's possible that this wasn't a sacrifice for him at all, but simply another extension of himself. Loving Mary without sex was easy, as he was whole and content in this sexless marriage.

Saint Joseph, Patron Saint of Asexuals, pray for us!

[saulof-tarsus]

March 25th is the Solemnity of the Annunciation. This nail set is to celebrate! It features roses, lilies, and a dove descending from the skies. We love Our Mother in this house. ☺️

[cruger2984]

[March 25 - Tuesday in the 3rd Week of Lent Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord]

"Sparkling with smiles. I'll work with everything I got. Reach and wish for. Hop step hi, sheep! My sight is locked on, let's make that future. The reason I'm doing my best is always because of… everyone!" -excerpt from 'Hop Step Hi, Sheep!'

[certifiedlovergirlsstuff]

dialogue prompts “are you sure about this.” and “just follow my lead.” with chad meeks and shy!reader

tweaked it just a little, hope that was okay. was gonna do a typical chad saving the day at a frat party but something else came to mind.

pairing: chad meeks-martin x fem!reader wc: 852

masterlist / chad meeks-martin

a disaster was rolling into town and there was only one person who could keep the damage low.

knuckles rapping quickly and unstopped against the dark wood door, almost resorting to banging your palms for more urgency.

“hello? emergency! emergency! anyone alive in room 15-“ the door abruptly swung open, unfortunately causing you to hit ethan on the chin.

he groaned and cupped the spot as you covered your mouth in shock. “i’m so sorry, ethan.” muffled voice as you took a step forward to look for any damage. all was good, just a growing red spot from your knuckles and two rings “although, you shouldn’t open doors like that,” suddenly sounding like a concerned mother.

ethan stopped rubbing his skin and gaped at you, “your the one screaming emergency! and nonstop hitting the door!” he left the door open and turned away from you.

you stomped inside the small space, slamming the door shut with the flat of your foot. a deep caveman groan crawled out your throat while flopping face first onto chad’s vacant bed.

“what’s got you in a mood?” a sincere question coated in sass from ethan.

“my parents are visiting.” two barely audible causing ethan to ask again. so you forced yourself to flip onto your back as the four worst words fill the air.

“my parents are visiting.” annunciating each letter while staring at the ceiling.

“okay?” ethan clapped his hands, “and why is that emergency level panic?” you heard his chair creek with movement.

a deep inhale before sighing out, “cause they think i have a boyfriend and want to meet him.” your palms smacked into your eyes rendering you blind.

it was quiet for a minute- you counted the sixty seconds- before ethan bursted into laughter.

“it’s not funny, ethan! this is serious! i’ve been lying for six months and i’m about to get chewed out.“ ethan’s laughs only grew in volume at your distress.

“what’s wrong with you?” a muffled sound of hands hitting bedding echoed off the walls. dragging your hands away you were greeted at the chad’s light brown eyes watching over your solemn worry. without thinking you jerked up and knocked your forehead into chad’s, the both of you groaning and rubbing the spot.

“pay back bitch,” ethan stated as he jumped into his bed. you flipped him off without looking his way, fingers rubbing the sore area while keeping your eyes on your lap.

“hey,” chad’s palm sat just above your left knee and you froze. you didn’t dare look into the boy’s eyes, but he curled a finger under your chin and pushed your head up. he was smooth without trying and it made your heart run fast.

“what’s wrong?” chad’s voice low and calm. a simple sigh as you averted your eyes again, more interested in your fingers. “my uh… my parents are visiting. and- and they want to meet my… my boyfriend.”

you slowly looked up to he greeted by chad’s confused and thinking face, brows pinched and mouth pursed. “but- but you don’t have-“ “i know. i lied to them for the past six months, and now i don’t know what to do.”

“you’re an idiot,” chad scoffed. “i know! just- just help me!” pleading for chad’s assistance, in anyway he could offer.

chad’s thinking face was similar to his confused face so you thought he was still processing your dilemma until he spoke the most absurd thing aloud-

“what if i’m your boyfriend?”

if you had any liquid in your mouth you would’ve spit take from shock. ethan seemed to find the whole ordeal hilarious since his laughter returned tenfold. “oh! this is just… amazing!” both you and chad glared at the red cheeked boy.

“did you… already come up with a name? face?” chad’s warm brown eyes watched you carefully. you bit into the inside of your bottom lip and softly proclaimed, “kinda- kinda described you. chad. they think i’m dating you.”

and of course you would describe chad, you gained a crush on him after a week of knowing each other.

“so it’s settled, i’ll be your boyfriend!” and he was beaming on the word boyfriend.

“awesome.” voice meek and throat dry.

-

“i don’t think i can do this.” “you can, just relax and be yourself.”

finger drummed against wood table, knee bouncing under table cloth. “i’m gonna throw up.” “okay.”

chad dropped his hand over yours, finger curled in like a protective cage. your knee stopped it’s anxious motion, his calloused fingers caressed your knuckles. “everything is gonna be fine,” he whispered close to your ear, “we like each other already.”

a hitch to your breath, “yeah. as- as friends. right.”

“yeah, friends.” the word repeated softly with a little melancholy. “so, do you trust me?”

just the thought of lying for a joke felt wrong. “yes. i trust you.”

“then just follow my lead,” and he leaned in. lips pressing a sweet kiss to your cheek before pulling away and standing up.

“you just be mr and mrs l/n. pleasure to meet you, i’m chad meeks-martin. y/n’s boyfriend.”

-

[apenitentialprayer]

In the first image, we see a theme to which [Maurice] Denis will return again and again: the depiction of the Archangel Gabriel as a deacon bearing a book, almost as if Our Lady is the priest at the Solemn Mass to whom the book is being carried to her to kiss. In this very early depiction, painted when the artist was 19, he has even included a couple of acolytes bearing tapers. We something similar in this depiction ca. 1914, except that here the deacon-angel bows his head and raises his arms in a gesture of homage, while Our Lady bows her head in a reciprocal greeting. She is dressed as a bride.

One of my favorites is a depiction in which we see the familiar deacon-archangel holding a Gospel book, accompanied by the candlebearing acolytes, approaching the Blessed Virgin on what appears to be a rooftop terrace, with the sun streaming behind her (which is somewhat unconventional; usually the beam of light comes from across the scene from the other direction). The sublimity of the setting and its vertiginous perspective hint at the lofty grandeur of the miraculous conception.

Top Image: Mystère catholique, oil on canvas, 1890. Middle Image: Annonciation d'Assise, oil on canvas, 1914. Bottom Image: Annonciation à Fiesole, oil on canvas. Quotations by Peter Kwasniewski, "A Modern French Painter in Love With Our Lady: Maurice Denis' Remarkable Annunciation Paintings"

[panimoonchild]

Russians have no sacred things

Catholics celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord today. But Russia never stops. And hit with two ballistic missiles this morning in Kyiv.

The kids run to the shelter at the sound of the explosions. A minute after the siren sounds. They have only minutes to protect themselves.

Seven people are injured at this hour.

My sister only closed the windows when the explosions were heard.

Please keep spreading our voices and donate to our army and combat medics (savelife.in.ua, prytulafoundation.org, Serhii Sternenko, hospitallers.life, ptahy.vidchui.org and u24.gov.ua).

[inspiredbyjesuslove]

[myremnantarmy]

𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐆𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐥

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

Lk 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God

to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,

to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,

of the house of David,

and the virgin’s name was Mary.

And coming to her, he said,

“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

But she was greatly troubled at what was said

and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

Then the angel said to her,

“Do not be afraid, Mary,

for you have found favor with God.

Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,

and you shall name him Jesus.

He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,

and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,

and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,

and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”

But Mary said to the angel,

“How can this be,

since I have no relations with a man?”

And the angel said to her in reply,

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,

and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

Therefore the child to be born

will be called holy, the Son of God.

And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,

has also conceived a son in her old age,

and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;

for nothing will be impossible for God.”

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.

May it be done to me according to your word.”

Then the angel departed from her.

[universalis08]

AVE MARIA - Gregorian Chant of the Annunciation (Video in NAZARETH)

In this video filmed in Nazareth, Harpa Dei intones the Tractus (a chant sung before the Gospel during penitential seasons) for the Feast of the Archangel Gabriel, which, in the traditional calendar, is celebrated on 24 March, on the eve of the Solemnity of the Annunciation.

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

25th March >> Mass Readings (USA)

Solemnity of The Annunciation of the Lord

(Liturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I))

First Reading Isaiah 7:10–14; 8:10 Behold, the virgin shall conceive.

The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying: Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!” Then Isaiah said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary people, must you also weary my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us!”

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 40:7–8a, 8b–9, 10, 11

R/ Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not; then said I, “Behold, I come.”

R/ Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me, To do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!”

R/ Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.

R/ Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Your justice I kept not hid within my heart; your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken of; I have made no secret of your kindness and your truth in the vast assembly.

R/ Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Second Reading Hebrews 10:4–10 As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.

Brothers and sisters: It is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats takes away sins. For this reason, when Christ came into the world, he said:

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll, Behold, I come to do your will, O God.’”

First he says, “Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in.” These are offered according to the law. Then he says, “Behold, I come to do your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second. By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation John 1:14ab

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us and we saw his glory.

Gospel Luke 1:26–38 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son.

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.