The Angelus
A devotion commemorating the Incarnation, prayed at morning, noon, and evening when the church bells ring.
6:00
AM
12:00
Noon
6:00
PM
The Prayer
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
R. Be it done unto me according to Thy Word.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
V. And the Word was made flesh,
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord,
Thy grace into our hearts;
that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son
was made known by the message of an angel,
may by His Passion and Cross
be brought to the glory of His Resurrection.
Through the same Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
About
The History of the Angelus
The Angelus is a traditional Catholic devotion that developed during the Middle Ages. It commemorates the Incarnation of Christ, recalling the moment when the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would conceive the Son of God.
The custom of ringing church bells three times daily to call the faithful to prayer dates back to at least the 13th century. The morning Angelus was established in the 14th century, and by the 16th century, the practice of praying the Angelus at 6am, noon, and 6pm was widespread throughout the Catholic world.
The prayer consists of three versicles and responses, each followed by a Hail Mary, and concludes with a prayer asking God to pour His grace into our hearts. During the Easter season (from Easter Sunday to Pentecost), the Angelus is replaced by the Regina Caeli.
Pope John Paul II was known for praying the Angelus publicly every Sunday at noon from his window in the Vatican, a tradition continued by subsequent popes.
Easter Season
Regina Caeli
During the Easter season (Easter Sunday to Pentecost), the Angelus is replaced by the Regina Caeli:
Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.
Has risen, as He said, alleluia.
Pray for us to God, alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.
Let us pray
O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, that through the intercession
of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.
Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
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