The Angelus

V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, etc…

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to Your Word.

Hail Mary, etc…

V. And the Word was made flesh,
R. And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary, etc…

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 You, O Lord,
Your Grace into our hearts;
that as we have known the incarnation of Christ,
your Son by the message of an angel,
so by His passion and cross
we may be brought to the glory of His Resurrection.
Through the same Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

---

The timeline of The Angelus

The Angelus is a Catholic prayer that commemorates the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. It is traditionally prayed at dawn, noon, and dusk, and consists of a series of short verses and responses.

The origins of the Angelus can be traced back to the 13th century, when it was developed as a way for laypeople to join in the prayer life of the Church.

The prayer consists of three verses of the “Hail Mary,” each followed by a verse to reflect on the mystery of the Incarnation, and a concluding prayer asking for Mary’s intercession.

The Angelus became particularly popular in the 17th and 18th centuries, when it was widely used as a way for Catholics to renew their spiritual focus throughout the day.

The prayer’s association with the ringing of church bells also became an important aspect of its practice, with the ringing of the bells serving as a call to prayer and a reminder of the importance of Mary’s role in salvation history.

Today, the Angelus continues to be a beloved prayer of the Catholic Church, and it is often prayed by individuals and communities around the world. Its themes of Mary’s fidelity and openness to God’s will, as well as the mystery of the Incarnation, remain a source of spiritual inspiration for many Catholics.