What is the prayer commonly referred to as the Angelus?

2/23/25 - What is the prayer commonly referred to as the Angelus?

The Angelus, a prayer that has been recited for centuries, commemorates the incarnation of God as man Jesus Christ. It is a tradition that has been observed in the morning, at noon, and in the evening, with bells rung to remind the faithful to say this prayer. The word Angelus comes from the first word for the prayer in Latin, which translates to angel in English, which comes from the Greek aggelos, which means messenger.

I invite all parishes for this Lent to recite the Angelus at noon every day, even on Sunday throughout the Lenten Season. I hope that we will all pray for the Angelus together at the same time daily. This challenge is for each member of all our Parishes. There is so much to meditate on in this prayer. The incredible love God has for us in becoming an infant, the blessed mother's willingness to do God's will, to say yes. The final prayer reminds us of our goal to share in the Resurrection, a transformative event that is the most important goal to which God directs our lives.

In Christ

Fr. M

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