``Where the
Bishop is, there let the multitude of believers be;
even as where Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church'' Ignatius of
Antioch, 1st c. A.D
The Angelus
The Angelus Domini, shortened to "the Angelus," is the
ringing of the church bell -- in three groups
of three chimes with a pause in between each group, followed by 9
consecutive strokes -- at 6AM, Noon, and 6PM roughly, and its
associated prayers, which spring from the monastic practice of praying
the tres orationes at Matins, Prime and
Compline.
While the monastics said their prayers at the sound of
the Angelus Bell, the faithful would stop what they were doing and say
3 Hail Marys in honor of the Incarnation. Later, since at least A.D.
1612, verses were added to these Hail Marys such that we get the form
of the Angelus we have today.
During Paschaltide (the
Easter Season), the humbling Angelus prayer below is replaced with the
more celebratory, joyous Regina Coeli prayer at the direction of Pope
Benedict XIV in 1742.
Some of the earliest bells used for this purpose, dating to the 13th
and 14th centuries, still survive and are engraved with inscriptions
attesting to their purpose. Some of these inscriptions are (from the
Catholic Encyclopedia):
Ave Maria,
gratia plena, Dominus tecum
(Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with
thee)
Dulcis instar
mellis campana vocor Gabrielis
(I am sweet as honey, and am called
Gabriel's bell)
Ecce Gabrielis sonat hęc campana fidelis
(Behold this bell of faithful Gabriel sounds)
Missi de coelis
nomen habeo Gabrielis
(I bear the name of Gabriel sent from heaven)
Missus vero pie
Gabriel fert lęta Marię
(Gabriel the messenger bears joyous tidings to
holy Mary)
O Rex Glorię
Veni Cum Pace
(O King of Glory, Come with Peace)
Sadly, there are
few places where the Angelus is still rung consistently. Vatican City,
of course, still chimes the Angelus, as do traditional monasteries and
convents and various institutions in the Republic of Ireland, but in
this latter case, the cause of "diversity" is challenging the practice.
Christendom is losing once again. The prayers of the Angelus (and the
Regine Coeli) are below, but first is a video of the prayers chanted by
the Daughters of Mary.
The Prayers
of the Angelus
The Angelus
During
Paschaltide (Eastertide), this prayer, typically said kneeling, is replaced by
the
Regina Coeli (see below). If said
standing, genuflect at "And the
Word was made flesh".
V
The Angel of the
Lord declared unto Mary.
R
And she
conceived of the Holy Spirit.
All
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 in the hour of our death.
V
Behold the
handmaid of the Lord.
R
Be it done unto
me according to thy word.
All
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 in the hour of our death.
V
And the Word was
made Flesh.
R
And dwelt among
us.
All
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 in the hour of our death.
V
Pray for us, O
Holy Mother of God.
R
That we may be
made worthy of the promises of Christ.
V
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.
All
Amen.
Latin
Version:
V
Angelus Domini
nuntiavit Mariae;
R
Et concepit de
Spiritu Sancto.
All
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 nostrae. Amen.
V
Ecce ancilla
Domini.
R
Fiat mihi
secundum verbum tuum.
All
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 nostrae. Amen.
V
Et Verbum caro
factum est.
R
Et habitavit in
nobis.
All
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 nostrae. Amen.
V
Ora pro nobis,
sancta Dei Genetrix.
R
Ut digni
efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
V
Oremus.Gratiam
tuam, quaesumus, 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.
All
Amen.
Regina Coeli
This prayer, said standing, is used to replace the Angelus during
Paschaltide.
All
Queen of Heaven
rejoice, alleluia: For He whom you merited to bear, alleluia, Has risen
as He said, alleluia. Pray for us to God, alleluia.
V
Rejoice and be
glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R
Because the Lord
is truly risen, alleluia.
V
Let us pray : O
God, who by the Resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, granted
joy to the whole world: grant we beg Thee, 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.
R
Amen.
Latin Version:
All
Regina coeli,
laetare, alleluia: Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia. Resurrexit
sicut dixit, alleluia. Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.
V
Gaude et
laetare, Virgo Maria, Alleluia,
R
Quia surrexit
Dominus vere, alleluia.
V
Oremus : Deus
qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi, mundum
laetificare dignatus es: praesta, quaesumus, ut per eius Genetricem
Virginem Mariam, perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae. Per eundem Christum
Dominum nostrum.
