The Angelus Prayer: Table of Contents
- Angelus Prayer in English
- Angelus Prayer in Latin
- Angelus Pray Overview
- History and Meaning of the Angelus Prayer
- Praying the Angelus on Hallow
- Angelus FAQ
The Angelus prayer offers a beautiful way to punctuate your day with moments of grace and remembrance. This centuries-old Catholic tradition invites us to pause three times daily to commemorate the Incarnation—that incredible moment when God became human in Jesus Christ. We couldn’t be more thrilled to introduce you to this meaningful prayer that has brought peace to countless faithful throughout history!
It remans an important part of the faith life of Catholics today, more than 1000 years after the tradition began. In fact, Pope Leo XIV, less than one month after being elected to succeed Pope Francis, prayed the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square.
Let us ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, who generously gave her “yes” to participating in the work of salvation, to intercede for us and accompany us on the path of following the Lord, so that we too may become joyful laborers in God’s Kingdom. – Pope Leo XIV
The Angelus Prayer in English: How to Pray
The “V” stands for Versicle, a word that refers to the liturgical leader who would say or sing the line at a service. The “R” simply stands for Response. :
- V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
- R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
- Hail Mary, full of grace…
- V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
- R. Be it done unto me according to thy word.
- Hail Mary, full of grace…
- V. And the Word was made Flesh.
- R. And dwelt among us.
- Hail Mary, full of grace…
- 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 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. Amen.
Angelus Prayer in Latin: How to Pray
While many pray the Angelus in their native language, there’s something special about connecting with the Latin tradition.
You don’t need to be a Latin expert. Here are a few basic tips from my high school studying of Latin under Fr. Robert Cregan, S.J. that can help with pronunciation:
- Vowels each get their own sound, so “Dei” sounds like “day-ee”.
- The letter “c” is usually pronounced with a hard sound. So “concepit” is pronounced “cohn-KEP-it”.
- When it begins a word, the letter “v” takes a softer sound than we’re accustomed to in English, something closer to the English” w” sound.
- Double consonants are each pronounced distinctly, so “Ecce” sounds like “ek-kay”.
Angelus Prayer in Latin:
- V. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ.
- R. Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
- Ave Maria…
- V. Ecce ancilla Domini.
- R. Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.
- Ave Maria…
- V. Et Verbum caro factum est.
- R. Et habitavit in nobis.
- Ave Maria…
- V. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genitrix.
- R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
- Oremus: Gratiam tuam, quæsumus, Domine, mentibus nostris infunde; ut qui, Angelo nuntiante, Christi Filii tui incarnationem cognovimus, per passionem ejus et crucem, ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
If you mispronounce some words, it doesn’t matter. Who will even know? Dedicating time to prayer is much more important than getting your Latin pronunciations correct!
What is the Angelus Prayer?
The Angelus is a devotional prayer that commemorates the announcement of the Incarnation when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary (Luke 1:26-38). The name “Angelus” comes from the Latin opening words: “Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae” (“The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary”).
Traditionally prayed at 6 a.m, noon, and 6 pm, the Angelus creates a rhythm of remembrance throughout our day, helping us to center our hearts on God even amid our busiest moments–which is basically why Hallow exists. It’s a beautiful way to start your morning, sanctify your midday, and transition into your evening.
The History and Meaning of the Angelus Prayer
The Angelus has deep roots in Catholic tradition, evolving gradually over centuries. While its exact origins aren’t precisely documented, we know that by the 13th century, evening bells were rung encouraging the faithful to pray three Hail Marys.
By the 16th century, the prayer had taken its current form with the familiar pattern of versicles, responses, and Hail Marys, followed by a concluding prayer. The earliest known appearance of the complete prayer in a text dates back from 1566, “Little Office of the Blessed Virgin.”
Throughout medieval Europe, church bells would ring to signal Angelus prayer time, a practice that continues in many places today.
This beautiful tradition reminds us that we’re part of something much larger than ourselves—a communion of saints stretching back through time who have paused to remember God’s incredible gift of the Incarnation.
At its heart, the Angelus helps us remember and celebrate the moment when God entered human history in the most intimate way possible—by becoming one of us. Each time we pray the Angelus, we’re reminded of:
- Mary’s complete openness to God’s will (“Behold the handmaid of the Lord”)
- The mystery of the Incarnation (“And the Word was made flesh”)
- Our own call to bring Christ into the world through our daily lives
Praying the Angelus with Hallow
We’d love to accompany you as you begin or deepen your practice of the Angelus prayer. The Hallow app offers guided Angelus prayers to help you learn this beautiful tradition and incorporate it into your daily life.
The Angelus reminds us that God breaks into our ordinary moments—just as He did with Mary—bringing extraordinary grace. When we pray the Angelus, we create space for God to speak to our hearts, just as the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary.
On the Hallow app, you also can pray the Angelus in Latin with Padre Pio.
We’re thrilled to walk this journey of prayer with you! Whether you’re just discovering the Angelus or returning to it after some time away (it’s OK if you’re rusty!), remember that each time you pray, you’re joining countless faithful across the world who have paused to remember the moment when heaven touched earth.
“If you accept the invitation and stick with the practice daily, you will look back and find that God was indeed at work through the prayer.” – Jared Dees, author, “Praying the Angelus: Find Joy, Peace, and Purpose in Everyday Life”
Jump in wherever you are in your prayer journey—God is already waiting to meet you there.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Angelus
Traditionally, the Angelus is prayed three times daily: at 6:00 am, noon, and 6:00 pm. However, you can adapt these times to fit your schedule. The important thing is creating a regular rhythm of prayer throughout your day.
While the Angelus is a Catholic tradition, anyone drawn to this beautiful prayer is welcome to pray it. It centers on the Incarnation—God becoming human in Jesus—which is central to Christian faith across denominations.
While memorization can make the prayer more accessible throughout your day, it’s perfectly fine to use a prayer card, book, or the Hallow app. You’ll probably find that you will have it memorized before long.
Traditionally, the Angelus is prayed standing, except for the final prayer which is sometimes prayed kneeling (particularly on Fridays). However, the posture is less important than the disposition of your heart.
You can pray the Angelus whenever! However,during Easter season (from Easter Sunday through Pentecost), Catholic tradition substitutes the Angelus with the Regina Caeli (“Queen of Heaven”), a prayer that celebrates Christ’s resurrection and Mary’s joy.