Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Washington

From the

Official News Magazine of the Diocese of Spokane

(From the March 18, 2004 edition of the Inland Register)

On Thursday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m., there will be a special Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes celebrating the feast of the Annunciation. The celebration will correspond with events in Washington, D.C. sponsored by Human Life International, commemorating the Annunciation as both the anniversary of the papal encyclical Evangelum Vitae ("Gospel of Life") and the moment when, because of Mary’s “fiat,” the Incarnation took place – “the very beginning of the mystery of life, which Christ came to bestow on humanity.”

The liturgy will be a solemn, sung Mass with special music in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary sung by the Gonzaga University Gregorian Schola. Musical selections will range from the ancient Gregorian Proper chants for the Mass to Hassler’s late Renaissance setting of “Dixit Maria” (Mary said to the angel, “Let be done unto me according to thy word.”), in addition to several polyphonic Mass parts based on the same motet.