The Angelus Prayer: A Traditional Catholic Devotion

"The Angelus" Prayers
V: The Angel of the Lord declared to 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...

V: And the Word was made Flesh:
R: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary...

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.

Amen.

The Angelus is a traditional Catholic prayer that has been recited for centuries as a devotion to the Holy Mother of God. This prayer is typically recited three times a day, at 6 am, 12 pm, and 6 pm, and it commemorates the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.

The Angelus prayer consists of three verses, with a response after each verse. The first verse recalls the Annunciation, where the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she would conceive a child by the power of the Holy Spirit. The response to this verse is the Hail Mary, which honors the Blessed Mother and asks for her intercession.

The second verse of the Angelus prayer is a response by Mary to the angel's announcement, in which she humbly accepts God's plan for her life. The response to this verse is another Hail Mary.

The third verse of the prayer acknowledges the reality of the Incarnation, that God became flesh and dwelt among us. The response to this verse is yet another Hail Mary, followed by a concluding prayer asking for Mary's intercession.

The Angelus prayer is a powerful reminder of the humility and obedience of the Blessed Mother, who was chosen by God to bear his Son. It is also a reminder of the central mystery of the Christian faith, that God became man and dwelt among us, sharing in our human experience and redeeming us from sin and death.

Through the centuries, the Angelus has been a cherished devotional practice among Catholics, and it continues to be an important part of daily prayer for many. It is a simple yet profound way to honor the Holy Mother of God and to meditate on the mysteries of the faith.

Catholic prayer, Angelus, devotion, Holy Mother of God, traditional prayer, recitation, three times a day, 6 am, 12 pm, 6 pm, commemoration, Incarnation, Jesus Christ, three verses, response, Annunciation, angel Gabriel, Mary, conceive, Holy Spirit, Hail Mary, intercession, acceptance, God's plan, humility, obedience, Christian faith, redemption, sin, death, cherished, devotional practice, daily prayer, meditation, mysteries of the faith.