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Three short verses at morning, noon and evening, remembering the Incarnation.

How to pray it →
Marian prayer · morning, noon, evening

The Angelus

Ways to Pray / The Angelus

History & origin

What tradition says, and what historians say

The Angelus takes its name from its first Latin words, Angelus Domini, “the angel of the Lord.” It recalls the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel told Mary she would be the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:26–38), and the Incarnation, God becoming man (John 1:14).

It grew out of the medieval custom of saying three Hail Marys at the evening bell, attested in Franciscan houses in the 13th century; morning and noon bells followed in the 14th and 15th. Its full form with three verses was printed by the 16th century. Church bells still ring it in many places at 6 am, noon and 6 pm; on Sundays the Pope leads it from a window over St. Peter’s Square.

In Eastertide (Easter to Pentecost) the Regina Caeli (“Queen of Heaven, rejoice”) is said instead.

How to pray it

Step by step

  1. Traditionally at 6 am, noon and 6 pm, often when church bells ring.
  2. The leader says each versicle (V.), others answer (R.); a Hail Mary follows each pair.
  3. At “And the Word was made flesh,” many bow or genuflect.
  4. Close with the prayer. In Eastertide, pray the Regina Caeli instead.
The Angelus

V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Ghost.
Hail Mary…
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to thy 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 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.

Traditional English text, public domain.

Regina Caeli (Eastertide)

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia. For He whom thou didst merit to bear, alleluia, has risen, as He said, alleluia. Pray for us to God, alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

12th-century antiphon. Traditional English text, public domain.

What the Church teaches

The Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy (2001) §195 describes the Angelus as a recollection of “the salvific event in which the Word became flesh” and recommends keeping it, adapted to modern life.

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Sources & notes

Sources & notes

Prayer texts are traditional public-domain English forms, Douay-Rheims Scripture, Latin originals, or our own literal renderings where marked. Passages labelled Tradition or Legend are pious accounts that historians have not confirmed. Prayer and sacramentals are not a substitute for medical, legal or other professional help, and no prayer guarantees a particular outcome.