The celebration of this liturgical solemnity was presided over by the Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa.
Nazareth – Israel (017/04/2024 17:12, Gaudium Press) On 8 April, the community of Franciscan friars present in Nazareth, Israel, gathered in the Basilica of the Annunciation to celebrate Our Lady’s “Yes!” to the Archangel Gabriel and the Incarnation of the Word. The Solemnity of the Annunciation is normally celebrated on 25 March, but this year it was moved because of Holy Week.
The celebration of this liturgical solemnity was presided over by the Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and concelebrated by Vicar Monsignor Rafic Nahra; the Apostolic Nuncio to Israel, Monsignor Adolfo Tito Yllana; Friar Ibrahim Sabbagh, parish priest of Nazareth; and Friar Wojciech Bołoz, Guardian and Rector of the Basilica of the Annunciation and Shrine of the Holy Family in Nazareth.
The two main events of salvation history: the Incarnation and the Resurrection
In his homily, the Patriarch emphasized the coincidence of the Feast of the Annunciation being celebrated this year on the Octave of Easter: “On the same day, the two main events of salvation history are united: the Incarnation and the Resurrection! With Easter, Jesus will complete the work begun with Mary’s ‘Yes’: a ‘Yes’ to faith and trust even in what seems humanly impossible. Mary teaches us to say ‘Yes’ with unlimited trust in what is to come, because She trusts in God.”
The Rector of the Basilica of the Annunciation also addressed the audience, reminding them that “without the Incarnation there is no Resurrection” and that these two feasts are united in the Mystery of Christ. “The history of salvation, which ends at the empty tomb, begins right here. And then we remember the words of the risen Jesus who tells the apostles: ‘Go back to Galilee! There you will find me!’ It means going back to the origins, starting from the beginning, and it also means coming back here and retracing the history of salvation from here in order to understand it better and better,” he explaine
Procession and apostolic blessing with plenary indulgence
At the end of the liturgical solemnity, a procession took place inside the Upper Basilica, ‘Memorial of the Incarnation of the Word of God’ (‘Memoria Verbi Dei Incarnationis’), followed by the reading of three passages from the Gospels linked to the mystery of the Incarnation and the recitation of the Marian prayer of the Angelus. Finally, the Patriarch granted the Apostolic Blessing with a plenary indulgence granted by Pope Francis on the occasion of the feast. (EPC)
Compiled by Sandra Chisholm
