The Angelus is a short Catholic prayer about the Incarnation of the Son of God: the angel’s message to Mary, her answer, and the Word made flesh. You pray three short exchanges, each a versicle and a response followed by a Hail Mary, then a fourth exchange and a closing prayer. Said slowly, it takes a few minutes.

Its rhythm is tied to the day. Pope Paul VI offered “a simple but earnest exhortation” to continue its traditional recitation “wherever and whenever possible,” and praised its “quasi-liturgical rhythm which sanctifies different moments during the day.” He noted that morning, noon and evening still mark most people’s days and “constitute an invitation to pause in prayer.” Marialis Cultus 41

The words of the Angelus

This is the text the US bishops publish, from Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers. V/. marks the versicle and R/. the response. In a group, one person leads the versicles and everyone answers. On your own, say both. USCCB, The Angelus

V/. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary, R/. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

V/. Behold the handmaid of the Lord, R/. Be it done unto me according to your Word. Hail Mary…

V/. And the Word was made flesh, R/. And dwelt among us. 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 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 his Resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Where the words come from

The first three exchanges draw on the Gospels. In Luke, the angel Gabriel is sent from God to Nazareth and tells Mary, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” Mary answers, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Luke 1:26–38

The third exchange echoes the opening of John’s Gospel: “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” John 1:14

The Hail Mary between them opens with the angel’s greeting. The Catechism says that in it “it is God himself who, through his angel as intermediary, greets Mary.” Then come Elizabeth’s words; she “is the first in the long succession of generations who have called Mary ‘blessed.’” It ends by asking Mary to pray for us “now and at the hour of our death.” Catechism 2676–2677

The closing prayer looks past the Annunciation to the Cross and the Resurrection. Paul VI wrote that the Angelus “reminds us of the Paschal Mystery, in which recalling the Incarnation of the Son of God we pray that we may be led through his passion and cross to the glory of his resurrection.” Marialis Cultus 41

During the Easter season

During the Easter season a different prayer takes its place. Pope John Paul II put it simply: “In the Easter Season, the traditional prayer of the Angelus is replaced by the hymn of the Regina Caeli.” Pope Francis, in 2015, spoke of the Regina Caeli, “which in the Easter Season substitutes the prayer of the Angelus.” John Paul II, Regina Caeli, April 12, 2004

Starting the habit

Pick one of the three moments, perhaps noon, and set a daily reminder for it. Keep the words nearby until you know them. Once one time sticks, add another.

Creedo’s prayer area includes a guided Angelus if you would like to be walked through it. If your mind drifts halfway through, our piece on distraction in prayer may help. What to do when you get distracted in prayer

Sources and further reading