The Annunciation commemorates the event in which the Blessed Virgin Mary was informed by the Archangel Gabriel that she had been chosen to be the mother of our Lord. It is celebrated 9 months before Christmas, on March 25th, which is almost always in Lent. However, the feast must sometimes be translated to the week after Easter as it cannot be held during Holy Week or Easter Week.
The following is taken from:
- The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Anglican Church of Canada, Anglican Book Centre, Toronto © The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, 1962, Used without permission.
- The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Edited by Francis Burgess, originally produced by the Plainchant and Mediaeval Music Society, Royal School of Church Music, Dorking.
Antiphon: Isaiah 45 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open and bring forth a Saviour.
Verse: And let righteousness spring up together: I the Lord have created it.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Repeat the Antiphon Drop down, ye heavens, ...
The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 178-182
We beseech thee, O Lord, pour thy grace into our hearts; that, as we have known the incarnation of thy Son Jesus Christ by the message of an angel, so by his cross and passion we may be brought unto the glory of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Page 271
Moreover, the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a Virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
Isaiah 7:10-15 NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV
The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Page 271
Psalm 24 Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors: and the King of glory shall come in. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, or who shall rise up in his holy place: Even he that hath clean hands and a pure heart.
The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 178-182
St. Luke 1. And the Angel came in unto her, and said: Hail, Mary, full of Grace; the Lord is with thee. ℣. Blessed art thou among women: and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. ℣. The Holy Ghost shall come upon three: and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee. ℣. Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee: shall be called the Son of God.
The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 178-182
Alleluia. Alleluia. St. Luke 1. And the Angel came in unto her, and said: Hail, Mary, full of Grace; the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women. Alleluia. 1 Corinthians 5 Christ our Passover: is sacrificed for us. Alleluia.
The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 178-182
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a Virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the Virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee. And she was troubled at this saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; And of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, And the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee Shall be called the Son of God. And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren: for with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:26-38 NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV
The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Pages 271-272
Luke 1 Hail, Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women: and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 178-182
Upon Christmas Day, and during the Octave thereof, and upon the Feast of the Annunciation.
Because thou didst give Jesus Christ thine only Son to be born; who, by the operation of the Holy Spirit, was made very man of the substance of the Virgin Mary his mother; and that without spot of sin, to make us clean from all sin. Therefore with Angels, etc.
The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Page 79
Isaiah 7 Behold, a Virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son: and shall call his Name Emmanuel.
The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 178-182
Vigil
| Psalm(s): | 84, 85 |
|---|---|
| First Lesson: | Genesis 3:1–15 |
| Second Lesson: | Romans 5:12–end |
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Morning Prayer
| Psalm(s): | 48 |
|---|---|
| First Lesson: | Isaiah 52:7–12 |
| Second Lesson: | Hebrews 2:5–end |
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Evening Prayer
| Psalm(s): | 46, 48 |
|---|---|
| First Lesson: | 1 Samuel 2:1–10 |
| Second Lesson: | Matthew 1:18–23 |
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