Angelus

The Angelus (/ˈændʒələs/; Latin for "angel") is a prayer in the Catholic religion in memory of the Annunciation and Incarnation of the Word. It takes its name from its first words in the Latin version, Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ. It consists of three texts that summarize the mystery. A verse and the response are recited alternately.^[1]

The writing of the Angelus is attributed by some to Pope Urban II and by others to Pope John XXII. The custom of reciting it three times a day is attributed to the French king Louis XI, who established it in 1472. The moment of reciting the Angelus is also called the hour of the Hail Mary. The Pope publicly prays the Angelus every Sunday at noon, usually from the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace.

This prayer, according to the most reliable authorities, was introduced by Pope John XXII (1316-1334). For almost a hundred years, it was customary to announce the hour of the Angelus with a few rings of bells.

John XXII, by his papal bull of May 7, 1327, ordered that, when the bells of the prayer were heard, the Hail Mary be recited three times. Later, the Council of Paris, held in 1346, under the presidency of William, Archbishop of Sens, decreed:

"That the ordinance of Pope John, of holy memory, concerning the recitation of the Hail Mary at dusk, might be faithfully observed"

In 1815, Pope Pius VII added three “Glories to the Father...” to the Angelus in thanksgiving for the abundant gifts bestowed by the Holy Trinity on the Virgin, particularly for her glorious Assumption into heaven.^[2]

Pope John Paul II linked the Angelus with the Rosary: "There is a very close link between the Angelus and the Rosary, both prayers being eminently Marian: in fact, they make us contemplate and delve deeper into the mysteries of the history of salvation, in which Mary is intimately united to her Son Jesus".

℣. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ,
℟. Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. * Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostræ. Amen.

℣. Ecce ancilla Domini.
℟. Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. * Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostræ. Amen.

℣. Et Verbum caro factum est.
℟. Et habitavit in nobis.

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. * Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostræ. Amen.

℣. Ora pro nobis, Sancta Dei Genitrix.
℟. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.

Oremus.
Gratiam tuam, quæsumus, Domine, mentibus nostris infunde; ut qui, Angelo nuntiante, Christi Filii tui incarnationem cognovimus, per passionem eius et Crucem ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum.
℟: Amen.^[3]

℣. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
℟. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

V. Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.*

R. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

℣. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
℟. Be it done unto me according to thy word.

V. Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.*

R. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

℣. And the Word was made flesh.
℟. And dwelt among us.

V. Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.*

R. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

℣. 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, 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.^[3]

In some places, the Gloria Patri is added, either once or thrice.

℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.