It’s the Feast of the Annunciation of the Incarnation.Do we celebrate this solemnity because the Archangel Gabriel made an announcement to Mary or because on that day God became man? We’re advised to bow when we proclaim our belief in the incarnation during the creed, so why isn’t today (3/25) called the Feast of the Incarnation? Even when praying the rosary we refer to the first joyful mystery as annunciation rather than incarnation.
Have at it.
Wasn’t the incarnation announced by the prophets of old? The “overshadowing by the Holy Spirit” is more than just annunciation of it. Something more important happened than a proclamation or prophecy. God became man, but we’re celebrating the fact that Mary was told about it?
The Old Testament might have pre-figured the possibility, but we are celebrating the Annunciation to Mary that she is the Mother of God, at the moment of the Incarnation.Wasn’t the incarnation announced by the prophets of old? The “overshadowing by the Holy Spirit” is more than just annunciation of it. Something more important happened than a proclamation or prophecy. God became man, but we’re celebrating the fact that Mary was told about it?
It’s not my intent to be irreverent, because this is my favorite feast, but in light of the church’s life-begins-at-conception stance I’m a bit surprised that the feast of the Incarnation of God is not on par with Christmas.
Thank you, I understand, but I’m still confused on the why in light of the deeper mystery.
Yes, Yes, Br Rich. How beautiful, the Annuciation of the Incarnation of our Savior.
CarlanWell, we are celebrating the Annunciation! The Annunciation and the Incarnation did not happen at the same time. First it was announced, then then Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary. The reason we focus on the Annunciation and not the Incarnation is because, typically, Christmas is a celebration of the Incarnation. An Incarnation is not just the taking on of flesh, but the taking on of flesh and the birth. Therefore both theological ideas are celebrated at Christmas, whereas the Annunciation is celebrated and tied with fidelity to G-d (“Mary’s Yes”). It’s because two seperate theological ideas are being celebrated.Do we celebrate this solemnity because the Archangel Gabriel made an announcement to Mary or because on that day God became man? We’re advised to bow when we proclaim our belief in the incarnation during the creed, so why isn’t today (3/25) called the Feast of the Incarnation? Even when praying the rosary we refer to the first joyful mystery as annunciation rather than incarnation.
Have at it.
So does that render our involvement in the Pro-Life movement moot then?
No, not at all. It is simply what is being celebrated and remembered. Technically, with the use of a technical term that has a very specific meaning, for something to be incarnate it must have flesh and be born. The pro-life movement isn’t about “when does one become incarnate” but rather is about “when does one have a soul and, therefore, human”. Two seperate questions. Christ became incarnate, again in the technical sense (though most people think that incarnate simply means conception, instead of flesh and birth), on Christmas.
the feast is properly called the Annunciation of the Lord, it is a Solemnity of the Lord, not of Mary. The Incarnation is the act of God, the Annunciation asks and receives her consent, making Incarnation possible so the name celebrates both aspects, God’s work and the human response.Do we celebrate this solemnity because the Archangel Gabriel made an announcement to Mary or because on that day God became man? We’re advised to bow when we proclaim our belief in the incarnation during the creed, so why isn’t today (3/25) called the Feast of the Incarnation? Even when praying the rosary we refer to the first joyful mystery as annunciation rather than incarnation.
Have at it.
The rubrics call for us to genuflect during the part about the incarnation in the Creed. There are only two time when we genuflect at this point: the Annunciation and Christmas.Do we celebrate this solemnity because the Archangel Gabriel made an announcement to Mary or because on that day God became man? We’re advised to bow when we proclaim our belief in the incarnation during the creed, so why isn’t today (3/25) called the Feast of the Incarnation? Even when praying the rosary we refer to the first joyful mystery as annunciation rather than incarnation.
Have at it.
To be “Incarnate” required Jesus (God) to take on a physical human nature. This occured at the Annunciation.
I’m just giving you the definition that I found in my theology dictionary, Brother.
The modernists can distance themselves from our Lady as much as they want, but the Church has not moved away from her.
Your post violates the stickies which prohibit “denigrating VII or the clergy” and “challenges to church teaching and authority.” The Church calendar is assembled and edited by the Vatican and the appropriate dicasteries. I doubt that the feast is called “The Annuniciation of Our Lord” (and that is Whose Incarnation the Angel was annunciating…Our Lord) was because of some “modernist” conspiracy.