The Angelus Prayer: Words, When to Pray It and Its Meaning

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The Angelus is a short Catholic prayer recalling the Incarnation: the Son of God becoming man in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Catholics traditionally pause for it in the morning, at noon and in the evening, often at 6 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. Three verses and responses alternate with three Hail Marys, followed by a closing prayer.

The Angelus prayer

V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
R. And she conceived of the Holy Ghost.
Say one Hail Mary.

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

V. And the Word was made flesh,
R. And dwelt among us.
Say one Hail Mary.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:
Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy grace into our hearts,
that as we have known the Incarnation of Christ thy Son by the message of an angel,
so, by his Passion and Cross, we may be brought to the glory of his Resurrection.
Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

V. means the leader’s verse; R. means everyone’s response. When praying alone, say both. The English prayer above follows the traditional wording printed in F. X. Lasance’s My Prayer-Book (1908), with punctuation and capitalization adjusted. Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit name the same divine Person.

After each of the first three verses and responses, say this complete Hail Mary:

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 at the hour of our death. Amen.

The Angelus in Latin

V. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae,
R. Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
Say one Ave Maria.
V. Ecce ancilla Domini,
R. Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.
Say one Ave Maria.
V. Et Verbum caro factum est,
R. Et habitavit in nobis.
Say one Ave Maria.
V. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genetrix,
R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
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. Amen.

When to pray the Angelus

  • Morning, noon and evening. Six, twelve and six is a familiar schedule; local bell times vary. Choose a regular pause that you can keep.
  • When the Angelus bell rings. Its purpose is to call people to prayer, wherever they are.
  • During Eastertide (Easter Sunday to Pentecost) the Angelus is replaced by the Regina Caeli (see below).
  • The Pope’s Sunday prayer. The customary Sunday noon Angelus includes a reflection and blessing. The location and schedule can vary, and the Regina Caeli is used in the Easter season.

Pope St. Paul VI recommends the prayer’s morning, noon and evening rhythm in Marialis Cultus, 41. These are invitations to pray, rather than deadlines to worry about.

The Regina Caeli (Easter season)

V. Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
R. For he whom thou didst deserve to bear, alleluia.
V. Hath risen, as he said, alleluia.
R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. Because our Lord is truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray: O God, who by the Resurrection of thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, hast vouchsafed to make glad the whole world, grant, we beseech thee, that, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, his Mother, we may attain the joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

This is the traditional English wording in My Prayer-Book (1908), with punctuation and capitalization adjusted. Vouchsafed means graciously granted. The prayer invites Mary to rejoice in her Son’s Resurrection and asks for her intercession.

What the Angelus means

The three verses recall the angel’s message (Luke 1:26–35), Mary’s willing response (Luke 1:38) and the Word becoming flesh (John 1:14). The closing prayer then joins the Incarnation to Jesus’ Passion, death and Resurrection. The Child conceived in Mary’s womb is the Savior who gives his life for us.

To pray it attentively, pause briefly at each scene: God’s initiative, Mary’s consent and Christ’s presence among us. Then bring your own day’s work or difficulty to the closing prayer.

A short history

The Angelus developed over centuries as a daily Marian devotion associated with the ringing of bells. Paul VI’s account in Marialis Cultus, 41 connects its history with prayer for peace and safety and explains its lasting value: a brief remembrance of the Incarnation woven into ordinary life. It remains a devotion Catholics can pray at home, at work or together as a family.

Frequently asked questions

What time is the Angelus prayed?

Traditionally at 6 a.m., 12 noon and 6 p.m. If you miss the exact time, pray it when you can.

Can I pray the Angelus alone?

Yes. Simply say both the verses and the responses.

Why is the Angelus replaced by the Regina Caeli at Easter?

The Regina Caeli expresses Easter joy by celebrating the Resurrection of the Son whom Mary bore. The customary substitution continues through Pentecost Sunday; see Pope Francis’s Pentecost Regina Caeli of May 15, 2016, marking the end of that year’s Easter season.

Is the Angelus required for Catholics?

No. It is a recommended devotion, not an obligation.

More prayers

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