Angelus

The devotion is practised by reciting as versicle and response three Biblical verses narrating the mystery, alternating with the prayer "Hail Mary".

[1] The devotion is traditionally recited in Roman Catholic churches, convents, monasteries and by the faithful three times a day:[2] in the morning, at noon and in the evening (usually just before or after Vespers).

According to Herbert Thurston, the Angelus originated with the 11th-century monastic custom of reciting three Hail Marys at the evening, or Compline, bell.

[6] 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.

[7] The Angelus is not identical to the "noon bell" ordered by Pope Calixtus III (1455–58) 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.

[10][11] In his Apostolic Letter Marialis Cultus (1974), 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.

In addition, Roman Catholic churches (and some Protestant ones) ring the Angelus bell thrice daily.

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.

[10]As of 2015, RTÉ Audience Research found that a clear majority of Irish viewers still favour keeping the "Angelus" broadcasts, chimes and all.

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 peels the Angelus at noon and 18:00.

Slovak Catholic Rádio Lumen broadcasts the Angelus and other prayers daily for 10 minutes at noon.

"[16] Known informally as the Angelus Address (“Regina Cœli Address” during Eastertide), the short ritual is broadcast live at 12 p.m. (noon - Central European Time) on online platforms (Vatican News - with simultaneous interpretation), by public television (Rai 1) 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.

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.'

[18] In many Anglo-Catholic communities of the Anglican Communion, there is a tradition of singing the Angelus,[19] particularly before or after the Sunday parish Mass.

* Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.

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.

In the published Anglican versions of the Angelus, the text of the concluding collect reads: We beseech Thee, O LORD, pour Thy grace into our hearts; that as we have known the Incarnation of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, by the message of an angel, so by His Cross and Passion we may be brought unto the glory of His Resurrection.

[26] The Enchiridion Indulgentiarum includes a partial indulgence for the faithful who recite the Angelus in the three prescribed times.

[citation needed] In France, the Ave Maria seems to have been the ordinary label for Angelus bells; but in Germany the most common inscription of all, even in the case of many bells of the 13th century, is the words O Rex Gloriæ Veni Cum Pace ("O King of Glory, Come with Peace").

[31] The poem "The Irish Unionist's Farewell" by Sir John Betjeman has the line "and the Angelus is calling".

[35] In "The Angelus", Donegal poet Elizabeth Shane portrays an elderly couple cutting peat reminiscent of the scene in Millet's painting.

One of the lines reads: "But the Angelus Bell o'er the Liffey's swell rang out in the foggy dew".

[37] A poem by Edgar Allan Poe, "A Catholic Hymn", and various similar titles in 1835 as part of a short story and again in 1845.