Saturday, March 1, 2008

The Angelus

Does anyone outside a monastery pray The Angelus anymore? When I was part of the noon choir at Prince of Peace here in Las Vegas, we began reciting the prayer immediately after the mid-day bell rang. Each member of the choir took turns leading the prayer, while the rest of the choir - along with the congregation - recited the Hail Mary. I have not heard anyone in recent times recite this wonderful prayer. What a shame if the practice of reciting this prayer morning, noon, and evening gradually faded from practice due to apathy or ignorance.



The Angelus

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 painting The Angelus

The image above is of the painting The Angelus by French painter Jean Francois Millet. The image shows a man and his wife stopping to recite the prayer after hearing the distant Church bells.

11 comments:

Adrienne said...

When I taught at the radtrad school we said the Angelus before lunch every day. It was lovely to see all those little boys praying.

Tom in Vegas said...

Auntie A-

It's really nice to hear you say that. Somehow I don't think many Catholics remember - worse yet - know about this prayer.

BTW, Millet's painting reminds me of you and the hubby working in your garden!

Adrienne said...

I never look that nice when I'm working outside. Harold is busy with his business so it is mainly yours truly.

Although, after reading my rant about all the outside work, he reminded me that he had already removed the Rosa from the meditation garden last fall. Oh yeah, totally forgot. That made my day.

ukok said...

Well if I had posted this comment before I went to Mass today I would have said

'during Lent we have been praying the Angelus at the end of the Mass each Sunday at 12noon'

....but....today, we didn't, so I can't say that.

Also I think a lot of people pray the Angelus privately, I know I do.

Rita said...

I've heard that at least one Catholic state funded school in the UK blasts it over the PA system each day.

Also, doesn't the state TV channel in the Irish Republic still broadcast it each day? This is under threat, from the secularists even if it hasn't gone already.

Anonymous said...

Opus Dei members and friends say Angelus every day at noon, mostly privately. "Communion and Liberation" people pray Angelus at noon, gathering somewhere (students coming out of school, workers in their working place, ...) My children attend private schools in Italy held by FAES association - related to Opus Dei - and they pray Angelus at noon in classes from 1st graders to high school! State television in Italy still broadcasts the Pope's Angelus on Sundays.

Tom in Vegas said...

ukok-

I agree that a lot of people pray The Angelus privately. But unfortunately, it seems to be a fading practice in most Catholic Churches. Prince of Peace is the ONLY Church here in Vegas that I've heard recite the prayer.



Rita-

Glad to hear Catholic Schools in the UK teach and pray The Angelus. I'm not sure about the television station in Ireland you speak of since I have no access to local Irish television. I am saddened to hear that the secularists have their crosshairs set on it. I pray they don't succeed.

Pokankuni-

Welcome to my blog!! I was so happy to read your comments because it told me this wonderful tradition is still alive and well...especially in Europe. It's wonderful that your children are learning and reciting this prayer. God bless you!!!

the mother of this lot said...

We always said the Angelus everyday at school, at noon and
3pm (because we weren't there in the evening).

In our parish we still say it before the noon Saturday Mass.

The last time I was in Ireland the Angelus bells were still rung twice a day - although in the cities you don't see many people stopping and praying! Maybe they still do it in the fields like in the painting! I hope so!

Jennifer said...

We've recited it a few times at Mass, depending on the priest.

I do wish we said these type of prayers more often because they are our heritage.

We never say Hail Mary anymore during the service or even the Peninitial rite (OK, I am a terrible speller). In fact I think I'll talk to father about it the next time I see him.

Jane said...

Beautiful painting Tom. There are so many beautiful prayers and we are fortunate as Catholics to have them.

Cathy_of_Alex said...

Oh, yes, I pray it at least once/day. There are Angelus bells in my 'hood. A local parish prays it too.