Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
April 24, 2002
Observe the Annunciation
The traditional feast day of the solemnity of the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary occurs on March 25. This year the feast was moved to Monday, April 8 with no explanation. I am aware that March 25 fell within Holy Week, but is that reason to move such a solemn feast day — the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ — to a weekday in April? Under similar circumstances, would you move Easter or Christmas to another weekday? Certainly the Annunciation should take precedence over either Easter or Christmas. For, as the pro-life community can attest to, life does begin at conception when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
It seems obvious to me that without the incarnation of our Lord those other feasts would have no significance. So why, then, does the Roman Catholic Church downplay the solemnity of the Annunciation in favor of a huge commercial festivity nine months later on Dec. 25? What bothers me the most is that this year in my parish church there was no celebration at all of the solemnity of the Annunciation on Monday, April 8.
Jim Kluge
Editor's note: Sister Moira Debono, R.S.M., director of the Liturgy Office, offers the following explanation:
"Easter, understood from the earliest Church to hold all the mysteries of our salvation in a certain fullness, was the first feast the Church ever celebrated on a yearly basis. (The weekly Sunday Eucharist is our "little Easter.") We later came to celebrate Christmas. Unfortunately, the secular world eventually commercialized this holiday. We should not stop celebrating Christmas integrally, even if others have distorted it.
"The rubrics for Holy Week (days of preparation for Easter) state: `The days of Holy Week, from Monday to Thursday inclusive, have precedence over all other celebrations' (No. 16a General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar). Thus, the Annunciation was moved to the Monday after the second Sunday of Easter, the first day after the close of the octave of Easter. In this way, the solemnity of the Annunciation could be celebrated with the joy of the Easter season as close as possible to its proper date. This was not a local decision but done for the worldwide liturgical calendar according to the appropriate guidelines.
"Last year the Annunciation was March 26 because it fell on a Sunday and the Sundays of Lent have precedence over solemnities. The Annunciation was transferred to the very next day."
Music can be prayer
Over the years, I have read many letters that address issues like proper attire at Mass, socializing inside the church, and, most recently, what music is proper during Mass. I do not think that any of these issues are petty, although, the way we argue about them makes them seem petty. As a general rule, I do not get involved with issues such as these. However, the letter from G. L. Beranek in the March 27 Register addressing "pop" music in our churches compelled me to write.
My family and I usually attend the youth Mass at St. Joan of Arc. We have a youth band that graces this Mass. Jesus' presence radiates from these people. I have even gotten tears in my eyes a couple of times because His presence was so powerful in their singing and playing.
Beranek wrote that we no longer fear God. To me, fearing God is trembling in awe, not cowering in fear. I think that just like the rest of us, young people need to pray. Music can be their prayer. Their music brings to my mind a wonderful image of God, as well as the love, peace and justice that it radiates.
Kathleen Graham
Arvada
`Nun fund' gets great response
Thank you so much for running the "Nun fund" article (April 10 Register). All the sisters, and Mother (Maria-Thomas Beil) especially, thought the article was very well done. On my part, I am so grateful that words cannot express it. We have already received a wonderful response from many people! Thank you!
Christine Hudson
Virginia Dale
Editor's note: Christine Hudson is a Benedictine oblate at the Abbey of St. Walburga in Virginia Dale. She needs to pay off a school loan debt before she can enter the Benedictine order. A fund has been established to help her. To contribute, send checks to the Abbey of St. Walburga, c/o Mother Maria-Thomas Beil, 32109 N. US Hwy. 287, Virginia Dale, CO 80536-8942. Make checks payable to The Christine Hudson Fund. The abbey can be reached at 970-472-0612.
Praise for Msgr. McDaid
I read your wonderful story on Msgr. McDaid (April 10 Register). While in Colorado, he helped me a lot. Could you provide his Rome address?
Delores Hart
Craig
Editor's note: Send correspondence to Msgr. J. Anthony McDaid, c/o Congregation for Clergy, 00120 Vatican City State, Europe.
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