Before everything
else, I would like to congratulate my fellow Admin at 100% Katolikong Pinoy!,
Ryan Rayos, for his appointment as one of the new officers of YouthPinoy, the
social media arm of the Episcopal Commision on Youth of the Catholic Bishops'
Conference of the Philippines which is supervised by the CBCP Media Office.
Ryan now heads the four-man Logistics Committee of the organization.
Now, as promised, I
will dish out to you the readings and propers for the Solemnity of the
Annunciation. I cannot do it on a Monday night because for Christian workmen
like me, a Monday is a Monday no matter how sweet the Sunday was. (And yeah, it
was a sweet Sunday for me, indeed.)
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READINGS AND PROPERS
Extraordinary Form (Solemnity of the Annunciation of
the Blessed Virgin Mary)
White
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Double 1 Cl.
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This is
the great festival of the Incarnation, commemorating the announcement by the
Archangel Gabriel to Our Lady that the Divine Son of God, the Word, would take
human nature upon Him in her virginal womb. Its date is determined by that of
Christmas Day, and as the day which marked the beginning of Christian
dispensation it was for many centuries regarded as the first day of the civil
year.
On this
day the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, uniting for evermore our human
nature to the Divine nature. The Mystery of the Incarnation brings vividly
before us the boundless condescension and humility of God the Son in stooping
to our condition in order to be our Savior. Equally it proclaims the glory and
greatness of Mary, who was chosen to give to the Divine Word human flesh and
human birth, and so to co-operate with God in the restoration of mankind.
Hence, her most glorious title of "Mother of God," which explains all
her glories, her sanctity and her honor.
INTROIT ¤ Ps. 44. 13, 15, 16
Vultum tuum
deprecabuntur omnes divites plebis: adducentur Regi virgines post eam:
proximae ejus adducentur tibi in laetitia ex exsultatione. [T. P.Alleluia, alleluia.] -- Eructavit cor
meum verbum bonum: dico ego opera mea Regi. V.: Gloria Patri . . . -- Vultum
tuum . . .
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All the rich among
the people shall entreat Thy countenance: after her shall virgins be brought
to the King: her neighbors shall be brought to thee in gladness and
rejoicing. [P. T. Alleluia,
alleluia.] -- (Ps. 44. 2) My
heart hath uttered a good word: I speak my works to the King. V.: Glory to
the Father . . . -- All the rich among the people shall entreat . . .
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COLLECTS.--O
God, who didst will that Thy Word should take flesh, at the message of an
Angel, in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grant to Thy suppliant people,
that we who believe her to be truly the Mother of God, may be helped by her
intercession with Thee. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth . .
.
Grant
to us Thy servants, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we may enjoy perpetual
health of mind and body: and through the intercession of the Blessed Mary ever
Virgin may be delivered from present sorrow and enjoy everlasting gladness.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son . . .
EPISTLE
¤ Isaias 7. 10-15
Lesson
from the Prophet Isaias.
[A Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and His Name shall be
called Emmanuel.]
In those
days the Lord spoke to Achaz, saying: Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God,
either unto the depth of hell, or unto the height above. And Achaz said: I will
not ask, and I will not tempt the Lord. And He said: hear ye therefore, O house
of David: Is it a small thing for you to be grievous to men, that you are
grievous to my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign. Behold a Virgin shall conceive and
bear a Son, and His Name shall be called Emmanuel. He shall eat butter
and honey, that He may know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good.
GRADUAL
¤ Ps. 44. 3, 5
Diffusa est gratia
in labiis tuis: propterea benedixit te Deus in aeternum. V.: Propter
veritatem, et mansuetudinem, et justitiam: et deducet te mirabiliter dextera
tua.
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Grace is poured abroad in thy
lips; therefore hath God blessed thee forever. V.: Because of truth
and meekness, and justice; and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully.
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TRACT ¤
Ps. 44. 11, 12
Audi filia, et
vide, et inclina aurem tuam: quia concupivit Rex speciem tuam. V.: Vultum
tuum deprecabuntur omnes divites plebis: filiae regum in honore tuo. V.:
Adducentur Regi virgines post eam: proximae ejus afferentur tibi. V.:
Afferentur in laetitia, et exsultatione: adducentur in templum Regis.
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Hearken, O daughter, and see,
incline thy ear: for the King hath greatly desired thy beauty. V.: All
the rich shall entreat thy countenance: the daughters of kings in thine
honor. V.: After her shall virgins be brought to the King: her neighbors
shall be brought to thee. V.: They shall be brought with gladness and
rejoicing: they shall be brought into the temple of the King.
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During Eastertide the Gradual and the Tract are omitted and the following Alleluia is said:
Alleluia,
alleluia. V.: Ave Maria, gratia plena: Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in
mulieribus. Alleluia. V.: Virga Jesse floruit: Virgo Deum et hominem genuit:
pacem Deus reddidit, in se reconcilians ima summis. Alleluia.
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Alleluia,
alleluia. V.: Hail Mary, full of grace: the Lord is with thee: Blessed art
thou among women. Alleluia. (Numbers 17.
8). The rod of Jesse hath blossomed: a virgin hath brought forth God and man:
God hath given peace, reconciling the lowest with the highest in Himself.
Alleluia.
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GOSPEL ¤
Luke 1. 26-28
†
Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke.
[Gospel of the Annunciation by the Angel to the Blessed Virgin
Mary.]
At that
time the Angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called
Nazareth, to a virgin, espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of
David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And the Angel being come in, said unto
her: Hail, full of grace: the
Lord is with thee: Blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was
troubled at his saying: and thought within herself what manner of salutation
this should be. And the Angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thous hast found
grace with God: behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a
son, and thou shalt call His Name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called
the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of
David His father: and He shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever, and of His
kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said to the Angel: How shall this be
done, because I know not man? And the Angel answering said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,
and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee, and therefore also the
Holy which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God. And
behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age: and
this is the sixth month with her that is called barren: because no word shall
be impossible with God. And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according
to thy word.
OFFERTORY
¤ Luke 1. 28, 42
Ave Maria, gratia
plena: Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructris
ventris tui. [T. P. Alleluia.]
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Hail, Mary, full
of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women and blessed in
the fruit of thy womb. [P. T. Alleluia.]
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SECRETS.--Strengthen
in our minds, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the mysteries of the true faith; that we
who confess Him who was conceived of a Virgin to be true God and man, may
deserve by the power of His saving resurrection, to attain to eternal happiness.
Through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth . . .
By Thy
gracious mercy, O Lord, and by the intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin,
may this oblation avail us for peace and welfare both now and forevermore.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son . . .
PREFACE
Preface of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin
Vere dignum et
justum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere:
Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus. Et te in Annuntiatione beatae
Mariae semper Virginis collaudare, benedicere, et praedicare. Quae et
Unigenitum tuum Sancti Spiritus obumbratione concepit: et virginitatis gloria
permanente, lumen aeternum mundo effudit, Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum. Per
quem majestatem tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt
Potestates. Coeli, coelorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim, socia
exsultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti jubeas
deprecamur, supplici confessione dicentes:
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It is truly meet
and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in
all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting
God: and that we should praise and bless, and proclaim Thee, in the
Annunciation of the Blessed Mary, ever-Virgin: Who also conceived Thine
only-begotten Son by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost, and the glory of
her virginity still abiding, gave forth to the world the everlasting Light,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Through
whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, and the
Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the
blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together
with these we entreat Thee that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be
admitted while we say with lowly praise:
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COMMUNION
¤ Isaias 7. 14
Ecce Virgo
concipiet, et pariet filium: et vocabitur Nomen ejus Emmanuel. [T. P. Alleluia.] Scapulis suis
obumbrabit tibi Dominus, et sub pennis ejus serabis: scuto circumdabit te
veritas ejus.
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Behold a virgin
shall conceive, and bear a Son, and His Name shall be called Emmanuel. [P. T. Alleluia.]
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POSTCOMMUNIONS.--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 the Resurrection. Through the
same our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son . . .
O Lord,
grant, we beseech Thee, that we who have received these aids unto salvation,
may be always and everywhere protected by the intercession of Blessed Mary ever
Virgin, in veneration of whom we have offered up these gifts to Thy Majesty.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth . . .
Ordinary
Form (Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the
Incarnation of our Lord)
Prophecy:
Is. 7:10-14
In those days: The
Lord spoke to Achaz, saying: Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God, either unto
the depth of hell, or unto the height above. And Achaz said: I will not ask,
and I will not tempt the Lord. And he said: Hear ye therefore, O house of
David: Is it a small thing for you to be grievous to men, that you are grievous
to my God also? Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and
bear a son and his name shall be called Emmanuel.
Responsorial:
Ps. 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 11
R:
Here I am, Lord: I have come to do Thy will.
Sacrifice and
oblation thou didst not desire;
but thou hast
pierced ears for me.
Burnt offering and
sin offering thou didst not require:
Then said I, Behold I come.
In the head of the book it is written of me
That I should do thy will:
O my God, I have desired it,
and thy law in the midst of my heart.
I have declared thy
justice in a great church,
lo, I will not
restrain my lips:
O Lord, thou knowest
it.
I have not hid thy
justice within my heart:
I have declared thy
truth and thy salvation.
I have not concealed
thy mercy
and thy truth from a
great council.
Epistle: Heb. 10:4-10
Brethren: It is
impossible that with the blood of oxen and goats sin should be taken away. Wherefore, when he cometh into the
world he saith: Sacrifice and oblation thou wouldest not: but a body
thou hast fitted to me. Holocausts for sin did not please thee. Then said I: Behold I come: in the
head of the book it is written of me: that I should do thy will, O God.
In saying before, Sacrifices, and oblations, and holocausts for sin thou
wouldest not, neither are they pleasing to thee, which are offered according to
the law. Then said I: Behold,
I come to do thy will, O God: He taketh away the first, that he may establish
that which followeth. In the which will, we are sanctified by the oblation of
the body of Jesus Christ once.
Gospel:
Lk. 1:26-38
At that time: The
angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a
virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the
virgin's name was Mary.
And the angel being
come in, said unto her: Hail,
full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who
having heard, was troubled at his saying and thought with herself what manner
of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for
thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and
shalt bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great
and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his
father: and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom
there shall be no end. And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be
done, because I know not man? And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy
Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Most High shall overshadow
thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called
the Son of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son
in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren.
Because no word shall be
impossible with God.
And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be
it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
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REFLECTIONS AND INSIGHTS
The history of the
Church starts in that little room where the Blessed Virgin Mary was found by
the Angel of God praying and contemplating in
the Scriptures. Probably, she was contemplating on the Prophecy of
Isaias on the Emmanuel. She might be contemplating on how would a virgin bear a
son, and that he shall be called "Emmanuel".
(For the third time
in this blog, I am theorizing why is the Prophecy of Isaias listed at the head
of the second half of the prophecies in the Old Testament, and how I theorize
the idea that the early Church highly venerated the belief that all that was said
in that prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus Christ that the Church Fathers of that
time put the Prophecy at a place of precedence over the other prophecies
arranged after the Psalms and the Proverbs.)
Mary's wondering was
turned into a surprise. She
would be that Virgin. The Child within her, Jesus, shall be called the Son of
the Most High, the Son of God--truly, the Emmanuel: the God who is with us.
The Responsorial and the Epistle of the Ordinary Form tackle the mission of Jesus Christ, the Son of Mary. His response to His Father was perfectly summed up in this statement: "Here am I, Lord: I have come to do Thy will". Just to relate: Jesus also taught this virtue of committing one's self to God as He inserted this statement in the prayer He famously made: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Therefore, the obedience of Jesus, the Son of God, even to the point of death on the cross was not only because He deliberately chose to suffer and die for us all, but because Mary taught Him about obedience; because she herself proclaimed herself as "the handmaid of the Lord."
The Responsorial and the Epistle of the Ordinary Form tackle the mission of Jesus Christ, the Son of Mary. His response to His Father was perfectly summed up in this statement: "Here am I, Lord: I have come to do Thy will". Just to relate: Jesus also taught this virtue of committing one's self to God as He inserted this statement in the prayer He famously made: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Therefore, the obedience of Jesus, the Son of God, even to the point of death on the cross was not only because He deliberately chose to suffer and die for us all, but because Mary taught Him about obedience; because she herself proclaimed herself as "the handmaid of the Lord."
If we relate the
Gospel on this day to the Gospel for the Third Sunday in Lent in the Old Rite,
we see a continuing story of praise to Mary. First, it was the angel who told her: "Hail, full of
grace!" Then, in the ministry of Christ, in the specific story of Him
driving out a demon from a possessed man, a woman told her: "Blessed is
the womb that bore Thee, and the paps that gave Thee suck!" in which Jesus
shyly augmented the praise to His Mother with the words: "Blessed are they
that hear the word of God and keep it."
Well, the whole
story and the celebration of the Incarnation of Christ is very, very familiar.
But is there a deeper meaning to this?
The answer: Yes, there is.
The answer: Yes, there is.
The world is no longer appreciating
the value of human life. Those who live according to the flesh make it a point
to excuse their promiscuity as human nature, and by this, distorting the very
way how we should live.
And what's worse: The world would like to take God out of its daily grind.
And what's worse: The world would like to take God out of its daily grind.
Case in point: The
Philippines and the Church's war against the Reproductive Health Law, which the
Supreme Court withheld in order to review the said statute whether it is
constitutional or not. The Church's stand is very clear: IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
As per Article II,
Sections 11 and 12 of the 1987 Constitution, "(Section 11) The State
values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human
rights. (Section 12) The State recognizes
the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a
basic autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the
mother and the life of the unborn from conception. The natural and primary
right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and
the development of moral character shall receive the support of the Government."
Furthermore, Section
5 of the Constitution's Bill of Rights (Article III) states the following:
Section 5. No law shall be made respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The free exercise and
enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or
preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be
required for the exercise of civil or political rights.
…and yet, many of
those who support the RH Law persecute religious groups who stand for moral
development just because they believe in God.
We can even examine
that a whole Article is devoted by the authors of this Constitution to promote
family life.
Article XV states
that:
Section 1. The State recognizes the Filipino family as the foundation
of the nation. Accordingly, it shall strengthen its solidarity and
actively promote its total development.
Section 2. Marriage, as an inviolable social institution, is the
foundation of the family and shall be protected by the State.
Section 3. The State shall defend:
- The right of spouses to found a family in accordance with their religious convictions and the demands of responsible parenthood;
- The right of children to
assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special protection
from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other
conditions prejudicial to their development;
The right of the family to a family living wage and income; and - The right of families or family associations to participate in the planning and implementation of policies and programs that affect them.
Section 4. The family has the duty to care
for its elderly members but the State may also do so through just programs of
social security.
(All emphases supplied by Yours
Truly.)
Therefore, shame on those who twist these provisions from the most fundamental law of the land, even though they are part of those who primarily promulgated it.
On a personal note:
I really don't know why people who are for "progress", development,
"free choice", "gender equality", gay "marriage"
and other moral distortions would like to discredit Holy Mother Church for things
which she have never made, officially or otherwise. But here is what I can say
about the Church speaking up about this moral question: The Pope has the power
of infallibility in an ex cathedra
proclamation on doctrines regarding faith and morals. And even if Pope Francis
may have a clumsy mouth and a wishy-washy thought, as most conservatives and
ultratraditionalists say and as he admits by the fact that he, though the Vicar
of Christ on earth, needs the prayers of the flock the Lord entrusts to him, so
far, we can say that his message is clear: LIFE IS SACRED, NO MATTER ITS STATE IS.
The sublime holiness of Jesus and
Mary must be responded with a fearless conviction--a conviction which we are
called to be saints and sent forth as heroes. We must choose to be brave
because the Lord commanded us to be such. If we have to die in order for this
generation to realise that life is never to be wasted by committing the worst
of sins and the most abominable acts of promiscuity and selfishness, so be it.
Besides, the Lord who became one of us except in sin died for the sinful and
for the most hard-headed people who ever walked the earth.
For my part, if death is the only way for the
culture of life to be victorious, I myself am willing to die just as Christ
died for us.
Although this Solemnity is supposed
to be a little break from the Lenten penance, the wisdom of the Church
celebrating the Incarnation in the middle of the season is a very clear
reminder that the Son of the living God, in all His glory, came as an Infant
who was destined to die in shame.
And so we ask: Will I choose bravery over
selfishness? Will I be willing to be like Jesus and Mary, who accepted the
divine will?
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PRAYING THE COLLECT
O God,
who didst will that Thy Word should take flesh, at the message of an Angel, in
the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grant to Thy suppliant people, that we who
believe her to be truly the Mother of God, may be helped by her intercession
with Thee. Grant to us Thy servants, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we may
enjoy perpetual health of mind and body: and through the intercession of the
Blessed Mary ever Virgin may be delivered from present sorrow and enjoy
everlasting gladness.
Through
our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost: One God, world without end. Amen.
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