Mary Accepts Her Vocation

Today we celebrate the Annunciation. This was the day the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and asked if she would be willing to take on the vocation of having and raising the Son of God.

Along with celebrating Mary's "Yes," it is a day for us to consider the vocation God asks of us.

Mary's Vocation

Today we celebrate the Annunciation. This was the day the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and asked if she would be willing to take on the vocation of having and raising the Son of God.

Along with celebrating Mary's "Yes," it is a day for us to consider the vocation God asks of us.

Mary's Last Words

Mary is present in scripture from the Annunciation to Pentecost. Some of the times she is mentioned include the Visitation, the Nativity, Finding Jesus in the Temple, the Wedding Feast at Cana, the Foot of the Cross, and burying Jesus.We get the Magnificat as her response to what God has done for her. But the very last time she speaks in scripture is in today's Gospel when she said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”

Remember that, "Do whatever He tells you."
 

Today We Celebrate the Annunciation

“The Annunciation,” by Denise Levertov
We know the scene: the room, variously furnished,
almost always a lectern, a book; always the tall lily.

Arrived on solemn grandeur of great wings,
the angelic ambassador, standing or hovering,
whom she acknowledges, a guest.

But we are told of meek obedience. No one mentionscourage.
The engendering Spirit
did not enter her without consent.

God waited.

She was free
to accept or to refuse, choice
integral to humanness.
———————————-

Aren’t there annunciations
of one sort or anotherin most lives?
Some unwillingly
undertake great destinies,
enact them in sullen pride,
uncomprehending.

More often
those moments
when roads of light and storm
open from darkness in a man or woman,
are turned away from
in dread, in a wave of weakness, in despair
and with relief.

Ordinary lives continue.
God does not smite them.
But the gates close, the pathway vanishes.
———————————–

She had been a child who played, ate, slept
like any other child – but unlike others,
wept only for pity, laughed
in joy not triumph.

Compassion and intelligence
fused in her, indivisible.
Called to a destiny more momentous
than any in all of Time,
she did not quail,
only asked
a simple, ‘How can this be?’
and gravely, courteously,
took to heart the angel’s reply,
perceiving instantly
the astounding ministry she was offered:
to bear in her womb

Infinite weight and lightness;
to carryin hidden, finite inwardness,
nine months of Eternity; to contain
in slender vase of being,
the sum of power -
in narrow flesh,
the sum of light.

Then bring to birth,
push out into air, a Man-child
needing, like any other,
milk and love -

but who was God.

Preschool Christmas Program

Sacred Heart Preschool had our Christmas

Program last night. We got ready by lining up.

We counted to make sure everyone was here.

Then it was time to let everyone take pictures of us.

Merry Christmas

Mary's Vocation

Today we celebrate the Annunciation. This was the day the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and asked if she would be willing to take on the vocation of having and raising the Son of God.

Along with celebrating Mary's "Yes," it is a day for us to consider the vocation God asks of us.

Eating meat Friday for the Annunciation

In view of the celebration of the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord on Friday, March 25, the observance of abstinence from meat is not obligatory, in accord with paragraph 1251 of Canon Law. This is not the same as a bishop dispensing from the obligation. That sometimes happens, for example, when the optional memorial St. Patrick’s Day occurs on a Lenten Friday. In that case, a bishop needs to make a special act to dispense from the obligation. Here, the law itself prescribes that when a solemnity (but not a memorial, as a solemnity ranks higher) occurs on a Friday, the law of abstinence does not apply.

But you can still enjoy the Fish Fry.

Annunciation

“The Annunciation,” by Denise Levertov

We know the scene: the room, variously furnished,
almost always a lectern, a book; always the tall lily.
Arrived on solemn grandeur of great wings,
the angelic ambassador, standing or hovering,
whom she acknowledges, a guest.

But we are told of meek obedience. No one mentionscourage.
The engendering Spirit
did not enter her without consent.
God waited.

She was free
to accept or to refuse, choice
integral to humanness.
———————————-

Aren’t there annunciations
of one sort or anotherin most lives?
Some unwillingly
undertake great destinies,
enact them in sullen pride,
uncomprehending.

More often
those moments
when roads of light and storm
open from darkness in a man or woman,
are turned away from
in dread, in a wave of weakness, in despair
and with relief.
Ordinary lives continue.
God does not smite them.
But the gates close, the pathway vanishes.
———————————–

She had been a child who played, ate, slept
like any other child – but unlike others,
wept only for pity, laughed
in joy not triumph.
Compassion and intelligence
fused in her, indivisible.

Called to a destiny more momentous
than any in all of Time,
she did not quail,
only asked
a simple, ‘How can this be?’
and gravely, courteously,
took to heart the angel’s reply,
perceiving instantly
the astounding ministry she was offered:

to bear in her womb
Infinite weight and lightness;
to carryin hidden, finite inwardness,
nine months of Eternity; to contain
in slender vase of being,
the sum of power -
in narrow flesh,
the sum of light.
Then bring to birth,
push out into air, a Man-child
needing, like any other,
milk and love -

but who was God.