Catholics celebrated the ads of the Lord in Nazareth, Holy Land

The Catholic community of Galilee celebrated the feast of the Lord’s Annunciation from “the same place of this sacred encounter”, participating in “spiritual and community celebrations” that took place in an environment of festive spirit and joy and unity in faith.

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, headed on March 24 a procession from the San Antonio Center to the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth. Once there, he blessed the faithful present and stopped in front of the cave of the announcement, “where prayers were raised in memory of the moment that the story changed,” says the Latin patriarchy of Jerusalem (PLJ) ​​on its official website.

“It was a deeply moving moment, in which the faithful, standing and in reverence, expressed their gratitude for the grace of God and prayed for peace and stability in the country and in the world,” he adds.

Later, at nightfall, the traditional procession with candles took place in the patio of the basilica, in which the present recited Marian hymns and prayed the rosary. The activity concluded with Eucharistic worship.

“Despite the challenges facing our country, today it is still a moment of celebration. We are glad for the word that changed the course of history, because God himself approached us. We have come to thank the Virgin Mary for her answer: a YEAH that opened the door of salvation to the world, ”said Cardinal Pizzaballa to all parishioners.

Already on March 25, an announcement party, the patriarch officiated the solemn mass accompanied by the bishops and the local clergy. In his homily, he assured that believers must learn from the Blessed Virgin as “living in these times”, urging them to give their existence to God with generosity.

“God continues to guide time and history today, with the same style of Nazareth, the style of meekness,” said Cardinal Pizzaballa.

“Our hope does not disappoint (Rom. 5, 5). It does not depend on the human efforts or the decisions of the powerful, but is only based on God. The Virgin Mary gave us this hope by freely accepting the will of God,” he added.

The celebrations concluded with another procession around the upper entrance of the house of the Virgin Mary, while proclaiming the gospels of the incarnation in multiple languages. At noon the Angelus was prayed accompanied by the repique of the Basilica bells.