The Angelus

The Angelus is a prayer which reminds us of the Annunciation when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Our Lady Mary with the news that she was to be the Mother of God as found in the first chapter of Luke’s Gospel. (Luke 1:26-38) The use of The Angelus within the liturgical life of the Episcopal Church highlights the important emphasis we place on the incarnation as The Angelus pays tribute to the crucial aspect of Mary’s role in the Incarnation, for it could not have happened without her consent. 

The Angelus is traditionally said three times a day, morning, noon and evening, and is usually accompanied by the ringing of a bell. The devotion consists of the saying of three pieces of scripture, each followed by a ‘Hail Mary’, and a final collect. The bell traditionally rings three times for each Hail Mary and nine times for the collect. 

The Angelus 

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary: 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.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary...

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

Hail Mary...

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, 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.