The Angelus: why Catholics pray it at 6 AM, noon, and 6 PM
The Angelus is a traditional Catholic prayer that remembers and honors the moment of the Incarnation of Jesus—when Mary said yes (fiat) to God and accepted the mission of bearing our Lord and Savior.
"Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to thy word." (Luke 1:38)
At that moment, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Eternal Word took flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary. God became man to dwell among us and accomplish our redemption.
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." (John 1:14)
Traditionally, Catholics pray the Angelus three times a day—morning, noon, and evening—as a way of pausing throughout the day to remember the Incarnation and to sanctify ordinary time with prayer.
℣. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
℟. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
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.
℣. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
℟. Be it done unto me according to thy word.
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.
℣. And the Word was made flesh.
℟. And dwelt among us.
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.
℣. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
℟. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
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.
The Angelus is more than a prayer to Mary—it is a meditation on the mystery of Christ made flesh. Through Mary's obedience, the Savior entered the world. By praying the Angelus, we ask for the grace to imitate her humility, trust, and willingness to say "yes" to God in our own lives.
May we never grow tired of contemplating this mystery, and may Our Lady help us to echo her fiat every day.