The Blessed Virgin Mary at the Annunciation: Model of a Generous Response to God’s Call

By guest writer Mark Rose

 

The Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord stands as the ultimate ontological turning point for the human race. Within the liturgical framework of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, this day is treated with a gravity that acknowledges the sheer magnitude of the miracle being commemorated.¹’² It is not simply a historical memory of a conversation in Nazareth. Rather, it is a ritualized entry into the moment when the eternal Word of God first touched the finite reality of human flesh.³’⁴ For those of us living in a world defined by constant digital noise and internal distraction, this feast provides a necessary architecture for understanding how to listen, how to hear, and ultimately how to heed a divine invitation.⁵

 

“In Defense of the Hermit Vocation”: Guest Article for the Feast of St. Paul the First Hermit

When the word “hermit” or “anchorite” is heard, many think of a strange person, a kind of extinct spiritual being in the history of the Church. Actually, at the beginning of the fourth century, the eremitical life was one of the standard ways, especially in the East. [1]

Today it is less common to come across a hermit let alone hear about someone pursuing an anchoritic vocation. Why would someone even consider this ancient and mystical vocation known for living in the desert and eating bugs? The answer is simple: God calls and the soul answers.

Many people are too busy to be able to listen to God and to physically and spiritually hear his voice. It is important to slow down, seek solitude, and pray to hear His call. We must first hear His call to heed His call. If a person doesn’t actively listen and seek God’s will they will not hear his voice. And thus, is the calling of a hermit.