This would be a great time for families to engage in feast related activities and projects at home, school and in their parishes. Below are listed just a few suggestions contained in the resource booklet, "Life Is a Miracle." (see below on how to obtain a copy):
Home
Have children draw or make a clay model of the Annunciation scene with the Trinity present-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-as well as Mary and the angel Gabriel. Make a tableau using a box to represent Mary’s house.
Make a flower centerpiece for the dinner table using red carnations (symbolize “incarnation”), baby’s breath (innocent, spirit) and ivy (eternal fidelity). The symbolism of the flowers reminds us of the Annunciation.
Bake a special cake for the occasion-an angel food cake iced in pale blue. The traditional color of Mary’s mantle is blue.
School
Draw on Scripture: slowly read Luke 1:26-38, the account of the Annunciation. Ask the students to jot down words or phrases that strike them during the reading. After the reading, have them draw symbols that capture the words or phrases they noted. Let students share their reflections and symbols with the class.
Talk about vocations: have the class list the various calls or vocations one might receive (married life, single life, priesthood, diaconate, consecrated life as a brother or sister). Have the class as a whole compose a prayer, asking God to lead each one of them to know his or her vocation in life(just as the call Mary received from God was to a special way of life)
Pray the Angelus: instruct the students that the Angelus is a traditional prayer about the mystery of the Incarnation. It is usually prayed each day in the morning, noon and evening. Have the students pray the Angelus at the end of class.
Parish
Annunciation bell ringing: in commemoration of the Incarnation of Jesus. Church bells are to ring morning, noon and evening along with the recitation of the Angelus.
Mary garden: the creation of a Mary garden on church or school grounds where students and/or parishioners could sit and reflect on the preborn Christ for the nine months before His birth. There is a prayer service with a beautiful reflection for each of the nine months of Mary’s pregnancy.
Presentation of flower bud: at every Mass on the weekend of the Annunciation, each pregnant woman would be presented with a flower still in bud. Just as March is the beginning of spring and new life so the presentation of the flower is the symbol of new life in the womb. The flower not in bloom represents the baby still in womb. Both will come to bloom.
These ideas and suggestions on celebrating the Feast of the Annunciation are just a handful of the ever so many available in Life Is a Miracle. It also contains books, videos, songs, prayers and more. Please click here to order the book.
Please join us in a very special day of joy, prayer and dedication to Our Lady of Life.
