For centuries, three times a day, the faithful have paused at the sound of a bell to pray the Angelus — a short prayer that turns our hearts back to the moment Heaven changed everything: when Mary said yes, and the Word became flesh.
Below you’ll find the complete Angelus in both English and Latin, along with when and how we pray it.
What Is the Angelus?
The Angelus takes its name from its opening words in Latin, Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae — “The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.” It commemorates the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would conceive the Son of God, and her humble ‘yes’ to God’s will opened the way for the mystery of the Incarnation. Tradition traces the devotion back to at least the 13th century, when a bell — the Angelus bell — began calling the faithful to pause and pray at dawn, midday, and dusk.
When Should You Pray the Angelus?
- Traditionally, the Angelus is prayed three times a day — in the morning, at noon, and in the evening — often around 6 AM, noon, and 6 PM. It may also be prayed at other times as a personal devotion
- As a brief pause to reorient the heart toward God during a busy day
- During the Easter season, the Regina Caeli replaces the Angelus
- Alone, as a family, or in community
The Angelus Prayer — English
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 thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy 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 thy word.
Hail Mary, full of grace…
V. And the Word was made flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, full of grace…
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.
The Angelus Prayer — Latin
V. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae.
R. 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 nostrae. Amen.
V. Ecce ancilla Domini.
R. Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.
Ave Maria, gratia plena…
V. Et Verbum caro factum est.
R. Et habitavit in nobis.
Ave Maria, gratia plena…
V. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genetrix.
R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
Oremus.
Gratiam tuam, quaesumus, 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.
How to Pray the Angelus
Traditionally the Angelus is prayed standing. Some pray it in English, others in the original Latin — either is a faithful way to pause and turn the heart back to the Incarnation. At the line “And the Word was made flesh,” many bow or genuflect in reverence for the moment God became man.
Related Prayers
- The Hail Mary Prayer
- Our Father Prayer — Full Text in English & Latin
- Short Prayer to the Immaculate Conception
Frequently Asked Questions
The Angelus is a traditional Catholic prayer that commemorates the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would conceive the Son of God. Its name comes from the opening Latin words, Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae, meaning The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
Traditionally, the Angelus is prayed in the morning, at noon, and in the evening, often around 6 AM, noon, and 6 PM. However, it may also be prayed at other times as a personal devotion.
During the Easter season, from Easter Sunday through Pentecost, the Church replaces the Angelus with the Regina Caeli, a joyful Marian prayer that celebrates the Resurrection of Christ.
The Angelus can be prayed alone, with family, or in community. While it is traditionally associated with the ringing of a church bell, it is a personal devotion that anyone can pray at any time of day, in either English or Latin.
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