Angelus
The Angelus is a Catholic prayer commemorating the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. It consists of three versicles and responses recalling the Annunciation, each followed by a Hail Mary, and ends with a closing collect. Catholics traditionally recite the Angelus three times each day, around 6 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m. In many parishes, the ringing of church bells announces these specific prayer hours.
During the Easter season, the Church replaces the Angelus with the Regina Caeli. The Latin title comes from its opening line, "Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae," which translates to "The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary." On Sundays at noon, the Pope leads the faithful in reciting the Angelus from the window above St. Peter's Square.
The Angelus Prayer (Full Traditional Text)
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary. R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst 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, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst 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. And the Word was made flesh. R. And dwelt among us. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst 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. 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 Hail Mary of the Angelus
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst 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.
A Morning Prayer with the Angelus
Lord God, at the break of this day, we bring our hearts before You as we remember the message brought by the angel. You chose the Blessed Virgin Mary to bear Your Son, Jesus Christ, through the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. As we recite the words of the Angelus at morning light, grant us the grace to receive Your divine will with humble obedience. Teach us to say with Mary, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to thy word." Protect our speech, guide our labors, and keep us faithful to Your commandments throughout this morning and all the hours ahead. We offer our work and our prayers in union with Christ, who took on human flesh and walked among us. Through His Passion and Cross, lead us along the path of righteousness until we attain the everlasting glory of His Resurrection. Hear our petition, O Lord, and remain with us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Midday Prayer for the Noon Angelus Pause
O Lord Jesus Christ, as the midday hour arrives, we pause from our daily tasks to remember that the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. In the middle of our duties, we join our prayers with the universal Church and with the faithful who gather at noon in St. Peter's Square to recite these traditional verses. We beseech You, Lord, to pour Your grace directly into our weary hearts today. Look with mercy upon the work of our hands and grant us the strength to finish our labors in peace and charity. When our responsibilities feel heavy or our time feels short, remind us of Mary's complete surrender to Your divine call. May the mystery of Your holy Incarnation sanctify our afternoon hours, so that everything we do honors Your name. Bring us at last, through Your bitter Passion and Holy Cross, to the joy and brightness of Your glorious Resurrection. Amen.
An Evening Angelus Devotion at the End of the Day
Almighty and everlasting God, as evening comes and the bells toll to mark the close of the day, we gather to recite the Angelus with grateful and humble souls. We remember the greeting spoken to Mary in Nazareth and we acknowledge the infinite love that caused the Word to dwell among us. Forgive our shortcomings from this day, heal the wounds of our offenses, and grant us a restful night beneath Your watchful protection. We ask the prayers of the holy Mother of God, that our lives may reflect the promises of her Son. Pour forth Your divine grace into our hearts, O Lord, so that having recognized the Incarnation of Christ through the message of an angel, we may walk patiently along the way of the Cross and enter into the eternal dawn of the Resurrection, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
A One-Line Daily Angelus Prayer
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we may be brought by the Cross of Christ to the glory of His Resurrection. Amen.
Scripture to pray
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.— Luke 1:28 (KJV)
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.— Luke 1:38 (KJV)
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.— John 1:14 (KJV)
Frequently asked questions
What are the words of the Angelus prayer?
The Angelus begins with the versicle, "The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary," followed by the response, "And she conceived of the Holy Spirit," and a complete Hail Mary. It continues with the second versicle, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord," the response, "Be it done unto me according to thy word," and a second Hail Mary. The third versicle proclaims, "And the Word was made flesh," answered by, "And dwelt among us," followed by a third Hail Mary. The devotion concludes with the versicle, "Pray for us, O holy Mother of God," the response, "That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ," and the final collect asking God to pour grace into our hearts.
When do Catholics pray the Angelus?
Catholics traditionally pray the Angelus three times every day: at morning around 6 a.m., at noon, and at evening around 6 p.m. Catholic parishes often mark these three designated hours by ringing church bells across the community. Praying at these intervals divides the day into regular periods of devotional recollection centered on the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.
What does the Angelus mean?
The word Angelus is the Latin term meaning angel, taken directly from the opening line of the devotion, "Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae." The prayer recalls the Annunciation recorded in Luke 1:26-38 and the Incarnation described in John 1:14. Through its alternating versicles, the prayer focuses specifically on the moment the angel appeared to Mary and the divine Word became flesh to dwell among humanity.
What is the Regina Caeli and when does it replace the Angelus?
The Regina Caeli is a Marian prayer that replaces the Angelus during the liturgical season of Easter. Catholics recite this replacement prayer. When the Easter season concludes, Catholics resume praying the regular Angelus verses.
Do you stand or kneel for the Angelus?
The traditional texts do not require one posture, and the Angelus is prayed kneeling, standing, or pausing wherever one is when the bell rings. When the Regina Caeli replaces the Angelus in the Easter season, it is prayed in the same way. Choose the posture that allows you to pray with attention.
Why is the Angelus prayed at noon?
The Angelus is traditionally prayed at about 6 a.m., noon and 6 p.m., and the noon recitation is a pause in the middle of the day's work to remember that the Word became flesh. On Sundays at noon, the Pope maintains this tradition by leading the Angelus from his window overlooking the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square.
Can I pray the Angelus alone?
Yes, you can pray the Angelus alone wherever you are at morning, noon, or evening. When reciting the prayer in private, you speak both the versicles and the responses yourself before saying each Hail Mary and the closing collect. No group, church building, or formal bell is required to fulfill this daily Catholic devotion.