Angelus
The Angelus is a Catholic devotion commemorating the Incarnation of Christ. As with many Catholic prayers, the name Angelus is derived from its incipit—the first few words of the text: Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ. The devotion is practised by reciting as versicle and response three Biblical verses narrating the mystery, alternating with the prayer "Hail Mary". The Angelus exemplifies a species of prayers called the "prayer of the devotee".
The devotion is traditionally recited in Roman Catholic churches, convents, monasteries and by the faithful three times a day: in the morning, at noon and in the evening. The devotion is also observed by some Western Rite Orthodox, Lutheran, and Anglican churches.
The Angelus is usually accompanied by the ringing of the Angelus church bells, which is a call to prayer and to spread goodwill to everyone. The angel referred to in the prayer is Gabriel, a messenger of God who revealed to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive a child to be born the Son of God. In Eastertide, the Angelus is replaced by the Regina Coeli.
History
According to Herbert Thurston, the Angelus originated with the 11th-century monastic custom of reciting three Hail Marys at the evening, or Compline, bell.The first written documentation stems from the Italian Franciscan friar Sinigardi di Arezzo. Franciscan friaries in Italy document the use in 1263 and 1295. The current form of the Angelus prayer is included in a Venetian Catechism from 1560. The older usages seem to have commemorated the resurrection of Christ in the morning, his suffering at noon, and the annunciation in the evening. In 1269, St Bonaventure urged the faithful to adopt the custom of the Franciscans of saying three Hail Marys as the Compline bell was rung.
The Angelus is not identical to the "noon bell" ordered by Pope Calixtus III in 1456, who asked for a long midday bell-ringing and prayer for protection against the Turkish invasions of his time. In his 1956 Apostolic Letter Dum Maerenti Animo about the persecution of the Catholic church in Eastern Europe and China, Pope Pius XII recalls the 500th anniversary of the "noon bell", a prayer crusade ordered by his predecessors against what they considered to be dangers from the East. He again asks the faithful throughout the world, to pray for the persecuted Church in the East during the mid-day Angelus.
The custom of reciting it in the morning apparently grew from the monastic custom of saying three Hail Marys while a bell rang at Prime. The noon time custom apparently arose from the noon time commemoration of the Passion on Fridays. The institution of the Angelus is by some ascribed to Pope Urban II, by some to Pope John XXII in the year 1317. The triple recitation is ascribed to Louis XI of France, who in 1472 ordered it to be recited three times daily. The form of the prayer was standardised by the 17th century.
The manner of ringing the Angelus—the triple stroke repeated three times, with a pause between each set of three, sometimes followed by a longer peal as at curfew—seems to have been long established. The 15th-century constitutions of Syon Abbey dictate that the lay brother "shall toll the Ave bell nine strokes at three times, keeping the space of one Pater and Ave between each three tollings". The pattern of ringing on Irish RTÉ Radio One and television, RTÉ One, consists of three groups of three peals, each group separated by a pause, followed by a group of nine peals, for a total of eighteen rings.
In his Apostolic Letter Marialis Cultus, Pope Paul VI encouraged the praying of the Angelus considering it important and a reminder to faithful Catholics of the Paschal Mystery, in which by recalling the incarnation of the son of God they pray that they may be led "through his passion and cross to the glory of his resurrection."
Modern usage
It is common practice that during the recital of the Angelus prayer, for the lines "And the Word was made flesh/And dwelt among us", those reciting the prayer bow or genuflect. Either of these actions draws attention to the moment of the Incarnation of Christ into human flesh.During Paschaltide, the Marian antiphon Regina Cœli with versicle and prayer, is said in place of the Angelus.
In some Catholic schools, the Angelus is recited periodically. In most Franciscan and contemplative monasteries, the Angelus is prayed three times a day.
Angelus broadcasts
In Germany, particular dioceses and their radio stations broadcast the Angelus. In addition, Roman Catholic churches ring the Angelus bell thrice daily.In Ireland, The Angelus is currently broadcast every night before the main evening news at 18:00 on the main national TV channel, RTÉ One, and on the broadcaster's sister radio station, Radio 1, at noon and 18:00. In 2015, in advertising for a commission to independent film makers to produce versions of the Angelus, RTÉ described the playing of the Angelus as follows:
The daily "Angelus" broadcast on RTÉ One is by far RTÉ's longest-running and most watched Religious programme. It's also, possibly, the most controversial. For some, the reflective slot, which airs for just one minute in every 1440 per day and on only one RTÉ TV channel, is as much part of Ireland's unique cultural identity as the harp on your passport; for others, it's an anachronism – a reminder of more homogeneously and observantly Christian times.
, RTÉ Audience Research found that a clear majority of Irish viewers still favour keeping the "Angelus" broadcasts, chimes and all. Its appeal is summarised by one audience member as follows: "To the person of faith, it's a moment of grace; to the person without faith, it's a moment of peace. What's not to like?" The station also notes that the prayer itself is never broadcast, whether in vocal or text form.
The Angelus is broadcast daily on radio in the city of Monterrey, Mexico, at 06:00, 12:00, and 18:00.
In Brazil, radio stations associated with the Catholic Radio Network broadcast the Angelus daily at 18:00; radio stations that are not affiliated with the network but are run by Catholic personnel also broadcast the prayer at the same hour.
In the Philippines, radio and television stations of the Philippine Catholic Church and some religious orders broadcast the Angelus at 06:00, 12:00, and 18:00 PST. The devotion is also broadcast over the public address system at noon and 18:00 in some shopping malls, and in many Catholic educational institutions at noon on schooldays. Individual parish churches also ring bells at 18:00. It was once custom for a family to be home by the evening Angelus, where it is recited kneeling in front of the house altar.
In the United States and Canada, some Catholic radio stations run by laity broadcast the Angelus daily. American Trappist monasteries and convents often combine the Angelus with midday prayers or Vespers and pray them together in the Church. At the Roman Catholic University of Portland, the bell tower near the centre of campus peals the Angelus at noon and 18:00.
Slovak Catholic Rádio Lumen broadcasts the Angelus and other prayers daily for 10 minutes at noon. Likewise, TV Lux broadcasts the Angelus regularly.
Indulgences
The singular prayer of the Angelus grants a partial indulgence. The Raccolta includes an indulgence for praying the Angelus monthly. It was originally granted by Pope Benedict XIII in 1724 as a plenary indulgence.Papal custom
In Vatican City since Pope John XXIII, the Pope delivers an address in Italian every Sunday at noon. Pope John XXIII spoke of the Angelus "as a summary of 'the Christian epic' in three books: the divine invitation and initiative; the human response of obedience, fiat; and the result of this obedience, the Word made flesh."Known informally as the Angelus Address, the short ritual is broadcast live at 12 p.m. on online platforms, by public television and through Eurovision Network. At the end of the Address, the Pope leads recitation of the Angelus or Regina Cœli, and concludes with a blessing upon the crowds in Saint Peter's Square and televiewers.
Anglican practice
The Angelus is found in two popular twentieth-century Anglo-Catholic manuals of devotion. The Practice of Religion: A Short Manual of Instructions and Devotions by Archibald Campbell Knowles, first published in 1908, refers to the Angelus as "the memorial of the Incarnation" and notes that "In the Mystery of the Incarnation we worship and adore Our Lord as God of God, we honour and reverence Saint Mary as 'Blessed among women.' In honouring Mary, the Instrument of the Incarnation, we really honour Christ, Who became Incarnate."The Angelus is also found in Saint Augustine's Prayer Book: A Book of Devotion for members of the Episcopal Church, first published in 1947.
In many Anglo-Catholic communities of the Anglican Communion, there is a tradition of singing the Angelus, particularly before or after the Sunday parish Mass. The practice has spread more commonly into Roman Catholicism through the Ordinariate jurisdictions for former Anglicans.
Text
Latin
℣. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ,℟. Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. * Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostræ. Amen.
℣. Ecce ancilla Domini.
℟. Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. * Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostræ. Amen.
℣. Et Verbum caro factum est.
℟. Et habitavit in nobis.
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. * Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostræ. Amen.
℣. Ora pro nobis, Sancta Dei Genitrix.
℟. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
Oremus.
Gratiam tuam, quæsumus, 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.''