The word "Angelus" comes from the Latin "Angelus Domini" meaning "Angel of the Lord". This is a prayer of the Church said three times a day at 6 AM, Noon, and 6 PM. The present-day form of the Angelus traces back to 1560 and is a prayer composed of a short sentence followed by a response and then followed by a Hail Mary. It is an excellent prayer reminding all of Christ's Incarnation the gift of Himself - born to come, to die, and to save. The Church also blesses this devotion with indulgences.
The Angelus is prayed three times daily and is said year long except during Easter Time (From Easter Sunday until the end of the Octave of Pentecost) when the Regina Coeli is prayed. Traditionally, the Angelus is prayed while kneeling except on Sundays and Holy Days when it is prayed standing with a genuflecting (bowing on one knee) during the statement: "And dwelt among us".
If you are praying in a Group the leader saying the "V" parts and you say the "R" part, but if you are praying alone you will pray all parts.
The Prayer:
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary…
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.
V. Let us pray.
R. 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.
11 comment(s):
My priest begins with the Angelous every Sunday from the back of the church before he processes in and it's wonderful.
Wow, that must be very beautiful. I wish my parish did that. I also wish more parishes would end with the prayer of St. Michael the Archangel afterwards as was done before Vat. II.
Thanks for this. I've started going to noon mass when I can. I wasn't taught this prayer growing up in the 1970's. They don't have it printed in the chapel where I go to church.
Thank you for praying the Angelus as it has been recommended that the Faithful pray it devoutly and daily by many saints. It is very sad that the Angelus and many other great gems of Catholicism disappeared in the 1970s. I am glad that the Reform of the Reform is returning and such prayers like the Angelus are again.
http://www.fisheaters.com/angelus.html
Thanks for your beautiful sharing. However I just have a rather silly question. You mentioned the "V" parts and "R" parts. What does "V" mean?
Good question. If the Angelus is prayed in a group or by a priest, the V response is the Verse said by the priest or the leader. The R is the response said by everyone else. Of course, if you are praying this by yourself, you will say both parts yourself. God bless and pray the Angelus every day 3 times a day! There are indulgences for praying the Angelus.
Just a question. What is your sourcing for the congregation praying the "pour forth we beseech you...." part as a response? Our priest screamed at us daily communicants for praying that with him. He was furious at our lack of form (performing a priestly role, I suppose)
When prayed with a priest the "Pour Fourth..." prayer should be said only by the priest. Of course, if said privately without a priest, a layperson would still say that part of the prayer.
What exactly is an indulgence
Good question. To learn what indulgences are, see here:
https://acatholiclife.blogspot.com/2005/07/what-are-indulgences.html
Thank you for sharing im new and I found this reading the comments. God bless the bell and let it ring. Father, son, and Holy Spirit Amen
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