Nov 16 Sat
What is the Angelus?
The Angelus is a prayer that honors Christ in the mystery of the Incarnation; and is Marian, because of the Annunciation. It "invites us to meditate on the mystery of the Incarnation, encouraging the Christian to take Mary as a point of reference in the various moments of his day to imitate her in her readiness to carry out the divine plan of salvation."
The Angelus prayer was traditionally prayed three times a day, in the morning (6:00 a.m.), at noon (12:00 noon), and in the evening (6:00 p.m.). Nowadays, the custom among Catholics is the recitation of the Angelus at noon.
The Angelus is prayed throughout the year except during the Easter Season when the Church proposes the recitation of the Regina Coeli or Queen of Heaven.
The Church proposes the prayer of the Angelus as an invitation to every believer to unite himself to Mary's "fiat" and thus adhere to the plan that God has prepared for each of us.
It is also an opportunity to live the communion of saints, feeling sustained by the prayer of so many of the faithful who pray this prayer daily.
The Annunciation to Mary initiates the fulfillment of God's promises to his people. The archangel presents to the Virgin Mary God's plan of salvation, by which she is invited to become the Mother of the Redeemer.
Mary responds by trusting in God's plan, certain that nothing is impossible for Him. Thus, by giving her consent to the word of God, she becomes the Mother of Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit. With her consent, the Virgin Mary accepts wholeheartedly the divine will of salvation and gives herself to the service of her Son and the Mystery of Redemption.
Mary obeyed God, for her salvation and that of the whole human race. She continues to collaborate with the divine plan by being the mother of all men and intercessor of the Church.
Mary, "the woman of ‘yes’", promptly accepted the Angel's invitation. She does not respond with a mere yes to the divine Will, but with a ‘let it be done!’, which expresses an active and total conformity to what God is asking of her. It is much more than a mere giving of permission. It is a resolute adherence to the plan of God, a commitment of her whole life without wavering.
She also listens to our voices, even those that remain closed in our hearts, which do not have the strength to come out but which God knows better than we know ourselves.
Before the example of Mary, we can consider whether our dedication to God is also total, full of faith, cheerful, and unquestioning, without the slightest hesitation. “Does our dedication, which was initially full of love, continue now to be full of love? Is there not something that has managed to get into it, little things that muddy it?... Ask Jesus: Lord, how is my dedication? Has there been some look of displeasure, something that can hurt you, Lord, my Love?"