Angelus prayer tells story of salvation from incarnation to resurrection

Published: July 24, 2004

By Abbot Jerome Kodell, OSB

An 1859 painting by Jean-Francois Millet in the Louvre Museum in Paris depicts a man and woman standing in a field with heads bowed. A pitchfork has been thrust into the ground. In the distance can be seen the spire of a church. The painting is titled “Angelus.” The age-old practice of the Angelus prayer, on which this painting is based, is not as familiar today as it was years ago, though those who use it continue to find inspiration and sustenance in its biblical simplicity and beauty. The Angelus commemorates the event of the incarnation, God becoming human in the conception of Jesus in Mary’s womb, and takes its name from the opening words, “Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae” (“The angel of the Lord announced to Mary”). The prayer continues: “And she conceived by the Holy Spirit,” followed by a Hail Mary. Then two more versicles and refrains are interspersed with Hail Marys: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord / Be it done to me according to your word; And the word was made flesh/ And dwelt among us.” Then: “Pray for us, o holy mother of God / That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.” And then a closing prayer that encompasses the whole saving work: “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 the resurrection.” The Angelus is remarkable in that, with the repetition of a few biblical verses and a simple concluding prayer, it evokes the course of salvation from incarnation to resurrection. But it is not only a creed. It is also an invitation to action, bringing the disciple of Jesus into participation in the mystery of salvation by inviting to a renewal of personal response to God’s call in the light of Mary’s example. The prayer is typically said morning, noon and night, as a pause in work to consecrate the day. Where possible and convenient, the call to the Angelus is announced by church bells, three strokes repeated three times, followed by a longer pealing. The origin of the Angelus is traced to the 13th century, to a practice in monasteries of calling the brothers to Compline, the evening prayer. It soon had wider use and developed into its present form by the 16th century. The Angelus is one of the enduring products of the practical faith of Christians. The Incarnation mystery is brought into the daily life of believers of whatever walk of life with a short, simple prayer formula composed almost entirely of Scripture verses. One of the options of the prayer is a genuflection at the phrase, “And the word was made flesh,” a bodily expression of faith at the mention of the Incarnation, something which is done by the whole Church in the profession of the Creed in the Christmas liturgy and on the feast of the Annunciation, March 25. In Easter time the Angelus is replaced by the Regina Coeli, an equally ancient prayer focusing on the resurrection: “Queen of heaven rejoice, Alleluia; For he whom you did merit to bear, Alleluia; Has risen as he said, Alleluia; Pray for us to God, Alleluia; Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary; For the Lord has risen indeed, Alleluia.” Abbot Jerome Kodell, OSB, writes from Subiaco Abbey.

This article was originally published in Arkansas Catholic July 24, 2004. Copyright Diocese of Little Rock. All rights reserved. This article may be copied or redistributed with acknowledgement and permission of the publisher.