The Angelus

We live within the sound of our parish church's bells.  Dom L having told us once that church bells are like the voice of God, I began to pay more attention to them, and noticed that in addition to tolling the hours there was a special sort of ringing in the morning, evening and at noon.   I wondered what that special ringing could be, and had a hunch it was the Angelus bell.   Having been born on the cusp of Vatican II perhaps excuses my ignorance of this ancient custom of the Church.  I'd heard of the Angelus, of course, but didn't know much about it.  I've since learned the Angelus prayer, and when I hear the bells I now do more or less what the people in the picture below are doing.  In case you, too, grew up when this practice had fallen into disuse, here, courtesy of New Advent, is the text:

The Angelus

During Paschaltide, this prayer, said kneeling, is replaced by the Regina Coeli (see below).

V The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.

R And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

All 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 in the hour of

our death.

V Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

R Be it done unto me according to thy word.

All 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 in the hour of

our death.

V And the Word was made Flesh.

R And dwelt among us.

All 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 in the hour of

our death.

V Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.

R That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

V 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.

All Amen.

Regina Coeli

All Queen of Heaven rejoice, alleluia: For He whom you merited 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 Because the Lord is truly risen, alleluia.

V Let us pray : O God, who by the Resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord

Jesus Christ, granted joy to the whole world: grant we beg Thee,

that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we

may lay hold of the joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ

our Lord.

R Amen.