A big part of
our family culture is
celebrating the feasts of the liturgical year.
And heaven help me if I try to mix things up any. Tierneys have waffles for dinner on the Annunciation. They started off as toaster waffles. Now they are usually homemade waffles. One year they were waffles from the IHOP across from LAX. But there are always waffles for dinner for the Annunciation.
Apparently the whole thing is just
a Swedish miscommunication? But somewhere along the line someone mentioned to me that folks were supposed to eat waffles on the Annunciation, and really, that was all I needed.
This is how my children feel about the idea of breakfast for dinner:
It blows their little minds.
I love it.
That's what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to make the liturgical year fun and memorable for my kids. I want them to call me from college and ask me for my waffle recipe (um,
it's this) because they cannot imagine NOT eating waffles for dinner on the Annunciation. Because THAT will mean that they know when the Annunciation is, which would be just lovely.
They'll also know WHAT it is, because along with the waffles there will be reading of the story of the Annunciation in the gospel of St. Luke:
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”a> 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”b> 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be bornc> will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
And because this is the painting in our living room:
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The Annunciation by H.O. Tanner, American (Paris), The Philadelphia Museum of Art |
I love this painting so dearly. I love that the Angel Gabriel is leaving "beam me up" style. But I really love the look on Mary's face. The painter has captured an expression of wonder and humility and strength.
Prints are available from Amazon:
High Quality Fine Art Prints on Canvas - 24 x 19 inch Post-Impressionism Other - The Annunciation - by Henry Ossawa Tanner
Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
At noon we'll stand in front of this painting and say the Angelus. If you don't usually say it, today would be an excellent day to give it a whirl. I find it nearly impossible to notice when it's noon unless I set a reminder on my phone. But if I hear the alarm, we'll stop what we're doing and pray.
New in the shop! I've got it in
a pretty floral poster:
Or as
a set of six squares:
And it's a feast. So there will be plenty of whipped cream and maple syrup! How will you be celebrating?
