Father Hathaway’s Column — March 23, 2025
THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH
The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord is this Tuesday, March 25. Mass that day will include the Gloria and the Creed. During the Creed, the faithful respectfully genuflect at the words “and became man.” The Annunciation celebrates the mystery of the Incarnation and the vocation of Our Lady. Her faithful response to the Angel Gabriel’s message, her fiat, began the work of Redemption. For nine months, Our Lord grew and was nurtured in His mother’s womb, until His birth, which we celebrate on December 25.
The essential elements of this solemnity are captured in the Angelus prayer, which the Church encourages us to recite every day at noon. We do that here at the Basilica, praying the Angelus together at 12 noon, just before the 12:10 p.m. Mass, Monday through Friday. Please join us!
The Angelus
V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary….
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
R. Be it done unto me according to your word. Hail Mary….
V. And the Word was made flesh,
R. And dwelt among us. Hail Mary….
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
V. Let us pray….
R. Pour forth, we beseech You, O Lord, Your grace into our hearts, that we to whom the incarnation of Christ, Your Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
MARCHING FOR “THOSE WHO HAVE NO VOICE BUT OURS” — April 2
The Solemnity of the Annunciation, recalling the moment Christ was conceived in the womb of His mother, Mary, reminds us of the sanctity of all unborn human life. As you may know after seeing the flyer inserted in our bulletin last week (copies available at the back of church), there is currently an extremely pro-abortion majority in the Virginia State Legislature, which is promoting a dangerous constitutional amendment that goes far beyond what Roe v. Wade allowed. Under the amendment: Parental consent laws – Eliminated; Abortions up to birth – Guaranteed; Religious liberty – Denied; Health of women and girls – At risk; Taxpayers – Forced to fund abortion; and Predators – Protected.
You can help fight this amendment and other statewide, pro-abortion efforts with your prayers, by contacting members of the state legislature (see www.vacatholic.org/action-center/) and by participating in the Virginia March for Life in Richmond on April 2. The Basilica of Saint Mary is sponsoring a bus to the march. Sign up for a place on the bus at https://bit.ly/41vmL4N
As Bishop Burbidge wrote in a recent letter, our voices are vital in fighting “for the values we cherish and the lives these measures impact, especially the lives of those who have no voice but ours.” (Read the letter at https://bit.ly/3D91x3D)