Angelus is essence of prayer

Painting The Angelus by Jean-François Millet

Thanks to Ed for sharing this wonderful article on one of my favorite Marian devotions.

The Angelus, the prayer once prayed daily at noon and supper throughout the Church, is the whole of Christian spiritual life in a nutshell, says Father John Randall.

"I love the Angelus because the Angelus takes us into the essence of prayer," Randall said May 1 at a conference sponsored by Catholic Renewal Services.

The plan of the Angelus is simple, he said. It consists of three short prayers, each followed by a Hail Mary to meditate on the meaning of that prayer.

First, we pray that the angel came to Mary and told her of God's plan. Second, Mary surrenders to that plan. Third, we learn that the plan was successful - the Word has become flesh.

The Angelus is a prayer of the incarnation and the incarnation continues to the end of the world, Randall said. "It goes on in your life."

Every day, if you hear God's plan and you agree to it, "God's plan is going to take place in your life that day."
The Angelus

The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary . . .

Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
Be it done unto me according to thy word.
Hail Mary . . .

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 thee, O Lord, thy grace into hearts; that we, to whom the Incarnation 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.