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The Feast of the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary ( es, Nuestra Señora de la Expectación) was a
Kosloski, Philip. "A feast that ponders what Mary felt in the final days before Christ’s birth", ''Aleteia'', December 17, 2017
/ref> It is sometimes joined with a
Liturgical readings for the feast - The Brighton Oratory
{{Subject bar , portal1= Bible , portal2= Catholicism , portal3= Christianity Catholic holy days December observances
The Feast of the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary ( es, Nuestra Señora de la Expectación) was a Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
Feast that was originally celebrated in Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
, but started to be celebrated in other Catholic countries. It is not on the universal calendar, but is still commemorated on December 18 in some places such as Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
, Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...
, Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
and Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...
as well as in a few religious orders. The Dominicans honor Mary under the title of "Our Lady of the Expectation".
History
The feast owes its origin to the bishops of the tenthCouncil of Toledo
From the 5th century to the 7th century AD, about thirty synods, variously counted, were held at Toledo (''Concilia toletana'') in what would come to be part of Spain. The earliest, directed against Priscillianism, assembled in 400. The "thi ...
, in 656. The accompanying of the expectant mother of Jesus became a prominent theme that spread throughout the Iberian Peninsula and Italy during the Middle Ages. A High Mass was sung at a very early hour each morning during the octave, and it became customary that all who were with child would attend, that they might honor Our Lady's Maternity, and seek a blessing upon themselves. "The feast heightens the anticipation of Christmas and makes the last few days of Advent unique opportunities to meditate on what Mary must have been pondering in her heart."/ref> It is sometimes joined with a
novena
A novena (from Latin: ''novem'', "nine") is an ancient tradition of devotional praying in Christianity, consisting of private or public prayers repeated for nine successive days or weeks. The nine days between the Feast of the Ascension and Pen ...
beginning on December 16 and ending on Christmas Eve.
See also
*Annunciation
The Annunciation (from Latin '), also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Annunciation of Our Lady, or the Annunciation of the Lord, is the Christian celebration of the biblical tale of the announcement by the ange ...
* Rorate Mass
References
External links
Liturgical readings for the feast - The Brighton Oratory
{{Subject bar , portal1= Bible , portal2= Catholicism , portal3= Christianity Catholic holy days December observances