The Angelus
Traditional prayer of the Church; text: Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, revised edition (2007), per the USCCB's PDF version of this prayer. · USCCB
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The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your 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 your 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 you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts: that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your 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.
Latin text
Angelus
Angelus Dómini nuntiávit Mariæ.
Et concépit de Spíritu Sancto.
Ave Maria...
Ecce ancílla Dómini.
Fiat mihi secúndum verbum tuum.
Ave Maria...
Et Verbum caro factum est.
Et habitávit in nobis.
Ave Maria...
Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei génetrix.
Ut digni efficiámur promissiónibus Christi.
Orémus.
Grátiam tuam, quǽsumus, Dómine,
méntibus nostris infunde;
ut qui, Ángelo nuntiánte, Christi Fílii tui incarnatiónem cognóvimus, per passiónem eius et crucem, ad resurrectiónis glóriam perducámur. Per eúndem Christum Dóminum nostrum.
Amen.
Gloria Patri... (ter)
Requiem aeternam...
Meaning in brief
This prayer remembers the angel's message to Mary, her answer "Behold the handmaid of the Lord" (Lk 1:38), and the Word made flesh (Jn 1:14), with three Hail Marys in between. The closing prayer asks for grace, so that through the Passion and Cross of Christ we may be brought to the glory of his Resurrection.
Intentions and hope
The faithful pray it to make the hours of everyday life holy and to remember that God is present in the midst of human life. We may hope to learn from Mary how to accept God's will with humility.
When and how to pray
- Pray it three times a day, as is customary: around 6 a.m., at noon, and at 6 p.m. It may be prayed with or without the ringing of a bell.
- Say each of the three opening verses, each followed by one Hail Mary.
- Many people bow or kneel at the words "And the Word was made flesh."
- Close with the verse "Pray for us, O holy Mother of God" and the closing prayer.
- By custom, this prayer is said standing on Saturday evening and on Sunday.
- During the Easter season, it is replaced by the Queen of Heaven (Regina Caeli).
Where it comes from
History
The Angelus is a short devotion honoring the Incarnation. Its core is the threefold Hail Mary; the three opening verses and the closing verse and prayer were added only in later periods. [3]
The Catholic Encyclopedia concludes that this prayer began as an imitation of the evening prayer of monks. According to that encyclopedia, it is most likely not directly connected with the evening bell rung as a signal to put out fires and lamps. [3]
On April 2, 1742, Pope Benedict XIV decreed that during the Easter season the Angelus be replaced by the antiphon Queen of Heaven (Regina Caeli). He also decreed that it be prayed standing on Saturday evening and on Sunday. [4]
The Church grants a partial indulgence to the faithful who devoutly pray the Angelus (or the Queen of Heaven during the Easter season). The Enchiridion of Indulgences, no. 9, calls the custom of praying it in the morning, at noon, and in the evening a praiseworthy practice. [5]
Sources & version
Text: USCCB, Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, revised edition (2007), per the USCCB's PDF version of this prayer. Checked word for word against the source on 2026-11-05.
- Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, revised edition (2007), per the USCCB's PDF version of this prayer — Angelus
Text follows Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, revised edition (2007), per the USCCB's PDF version of this prayer; taken from www.usccb.org
Prayer text © USCCB; quoted with attribution and a link (owner decision K2, ADR 0067).
- Pope at Angelus: Render unto Caesar means being truthful, free to do good - Vatican News
Latin text from www.vaticannews.va
Latin text quoted with attribution and a link.
- Catholic Encyclopedia: Angelus
Published by New Advent (Catholic Encyclopedia, 1907–1912)
Cited as a factual source; the source text remains its publisher's.
- Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principles and Guidelines (Vatican City, 17 Dec 2001)
Published by Catholic Culture (reproducing the Congregation for Divine Worship document)
Cited as a factual source; the source text remains its publisher's.
- The Angelus & The Regina Caeli
Published by EWTN (quoting the Enchiridion of Indulgences, n. 9)
Cited as a factual source; the source text remains its publisher's.
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