The Diocese of Trenton’s Respect Life Ministry is once again offering a wide variety of prayers and resources for home and parish use to aid faithful in their celebration of the Solemnity of the Annunciation, celebrated by the Church on March 25.
The Annunciation, occurring nine months before the Nativity of Our Lord, marks the day when the Archangel Gabriel visited the Virgin Mary to share God’s will that she was to become the Mother of His only Son. Mary’s assent and declaration, “May it be done to me according to your Word (Luke 1:38),” heralded the Birth of Jesus our Savior.
Rachel Hendricks, diocesan coordinator for Respect Life Ministries, issued an invitation to those preparing for the solemnity and seeking new ways to deepen their faith.
“As a People of Life, this day serves as a kind of oasis during the penitential season of Lent,” she declared, “drawing our attention to both Mary’s courageous ‘Yes’ to the Angel Gabriel, and to that precise moment of the Incarnation of our Lord, that moment when the Word became flesh.”
Faithful are encouraged to pray using an Annunciation Novena and Reflection video series to be posted on the diocesan Facebook page each day at noon from March 17 to 25. Each day of the Novena includes the praying of the Angelus prayer and reflections from different guests from around the Diocese. Other diverse resources, available in English and Spanish, may be found on the department’s website, dioceseoftrenton.org/respect-life-ministry, and include thoughts for teaching and preaching about the solemnity; ways to celebrate in the home and at the parish; and prayers for expectant couples and those hoping to conceive or adopt a child.