Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
8th April 2024
In 2024, because it fell during Holy Week, the Solemnity of the Annunciation, normally celebrated on 25 March, is observed on Monday 8 April.
"As in the first garden Eve brought destruction, so in the garden of her womb, Mary would now bring Redemption." - Venerable Fulton J Sheen
The Annunciation of the Lord is the great moment in history when Almighty God became man. Our Church shall be open from 8am to 1pm for private adoration.
Prayer for the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
O God, Almighty Father, Who did please that at the message of the Angel Gabriel Thy Word should take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grant that we who believe her to be truly the mother of God may be aided by her intercession before Thee, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏💖💐
Reflection by Pope St Leo the Great
To pay the debt of our sinful state, a nature that was incapable of suffering was joined to one that could suffer. Thus, in keeping with the healing that we needed, one and the same mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ, was able to die in one nature, and unable to die in the other. He took the nature of a servant without stain of sin, enlarging our humanity without diminishing His divinity. He emptied himself; though invisible He made himself visible, though Creator and Lord of all things He chose to be one of us mortal men. Yet this was the condescension of compassion, not the loss of omnipotence. So He who in the nature of God had created man, became in the nature of a servant, man Himself. Thus the Son of God enters this lowly world. He comes down from the throne of heaven, yet does not separate Himself from the Father’s glory. He is born in a new condition, by a new birth. Incapable of suffering as God, He did not refuse to be a man, capable of suffering. Immortal, He chose to be subject to the laws of death. He who is true God is also true man. He is God in virtue of the fact that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He is man in virtue of the fact that the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.
Divine Mercy Sunday / The Annunciation of the Lord
This year we are very blessed to have the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord on the day immediately following Divine Mercy Sunday. On both these days we should especially pray for the conversion of souls so they may all come to love and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Art credit: Fady Bahgat