How to Pray the Angelus
Catholic Noonday Prayer Devotions - The Angelus and Regina Caeli
Jan 23, 2009
The Angelus celebrates the mystery of the incarnation: the moment when Almighty God became a tiny human baby in the Virgin Mary’s womb. The prayer of the Angelus asks the Blessed Mother Mary to intercede with, or to help, God’s people on earth.
If a group is praying the Angelus, a leader will speak the leader’s part and the group says the response. If an individual is praying alone, he will privately recite all the phrases.
Pray the Angelus
Leader: The angel of the Lord announced unto Mary.
Response: And she conceived by 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.
Leader: Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
Response: Be it done to 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.
Leader: And the Word was made flesh. (all bow or genuflect as these words are spoken)
Response: 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.
Leader: Let us pray. Pour forth, we beg 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.
From Easter Sunday to Pentecost, a prayer which celebrates the resurrection, called the Regina Caeli, replaces the Angelus.
Pray the Regina Caeli
Queen of Heaven, rejoice, Alleluia,
For He Whom You did merit to bear, Alleluia,
Has risen as He said, Alleluia,
Pray to God for us, Alleluia,
Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia,
The Lord has truly risen, Alleluia.
Let us pray. O God, Who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Your son, Our Lord Jesus Christ; grant, we beg You, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may lay hold of the joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
In the midst of a busy day, traditional noonday prayers can be like a breath of fresh air. They help people to remember that God is always with them, and they create a peaceful and holy break in an otherwise chaotic day.
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