As of about a half hour ago, it stopped being a day of abstinence here; that's when I prayed first Vespers for the Solemnity of the Annunciation.
It is a little known fact that a solemnity trumps a day of abstinence; so when a solemnity falls on a Friday in Lent . . . you are (in my considered judgment) free to eat meat if you wish. Such was the case last year, when Annunciation fell on Friday...
And also this year, with the Vigil. The Solemnity begins on the Vigil.
6 comments:
Such was the case last year, when Annunciation fell on Friday...
Last year March 25 was Holy Friday. I think Annunciation won't trump the fasting and abstinence of Holy Friday.
Wikipedia says: In years when March 25 falls during Holy Week or Easter Week the Annunciation is moved to the Monday after Low Sunday, which is the Sunday after Easter (if the Feast of St. Joseph, normally falling on March 19, must also be moved to a later date as a consequence of Easter falling on one of its earliest possible dates, the Annunciation is transferred to the Tuesday after Low Sunday, with the feast of St. Joseph on the Monday).
My mistake: I was remembering March, 2004, when St. Joseph's Day fell on a Friday. In which case, the same rule applies, because St. Joseph's Day is also a solemnity.
You are quite correct that Good Friday takes precedence over Annunciation.
I wish I'd remembered that. On the way home from the theatre last night, we went out to eat. My daughter wanted pizza. My wife didn't want to do pizza without sausage. My wife suggested a fish place. My daughter turned her nose up at that. I suggested going home for strawberry milkshakes. That was shot down rapidly. Nobody was happy.
A Liturgy of the Hours Question. When a solemnity (Annunciation) is followed by a solemnity (Sunday) what Vespers should be said; the Vespers for the solemnity or the Vespers for Sunday?
Anonymous:
Well, that depends, on their rank.
If you look in the front of your breviary, there should be a chart showing the rank of various liturgical days. What you will find there, in this case, is the Sunday of Lent outranks solemnities of the Lord, our Lady, and of saints. So, in this case, 4th Sunday of Lent outranks 2nd Vespers of Annunciation.
However, when the days are of equal rank, the first one takes precedence. I can't, just now, think of an example.
Or, you could just look in the ordo! (Grin.)
"Anonymous" asked the exact question that was puzzling me on Saturday night. I couldn't find the chart though. :-(
I'm sure glad Saturday was a Solemnity because it was my goddaughter's Baptism and we had to celebrate. :-)
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