Returning to the Angelus

'Tis time to switch back from the Easter Season's "Regina Coeli" to the Ordinary Time "Angelus".

According to a Pauline site, NunBlog:

Technically, the Easter Season ended last Sunday, but there is a tradition that ekes it out just a few days more by continuing to pray the Regina Coeli until Trinity Sunday. Somewhere recently I read that the Regina Coeli is said up to and including the afternoon of Trinity Sunday.

Either way, it's time to look again at the Angelus.

Calling the Incarnation to mind three times a day is a terrific way to keep your spiritual life in tune, and I think it is a kind of secret for the new evangelization as well. Three times a day, you affirm your faith in God's deeply personal interest in humanity. Three times a day, you recall humanity's profound response, given in Mary. Three times a day, in other words, you recommit to the Gospel.

Not, as St. Paul said, that we have anything to boast of: The initiative is entirely from God, it is pure gift. But there is a response, which is also a genuine gift given back to the source.

The Annunciation follows the usual biblical “call” pattern—but with one really big difference. Mary is the only person in the whole Bible to give her own verbal consent to an announcement from God. She says she is God’s “slave,” but she acts as a freewoman and child of God. So we have God’s initiative and then the creaturely response.

The Angelus shows us what our Founder wrote decades ago: "Everything comes from God-beginning, to return to God-end: for his glory and the happiness of all people." 

The Angelus is an ancient prayer celebrating the Angel Gabriel's annunciation of the Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is recited at 6 A.M., noon, and 6 P.M., and the time for recitation was traditionally marked by the ringing of church bells (which were known as the Angelus bells).
During the Easter season, from Easter through the Saturday before Pentecost Sunday (or until Trinity Sunday),  the prayer Regina Coeli Laetare is recited in place of the Angelus.

The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. 

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 at the hour of
our death. Amen. 

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word. 

Hail Mary . . . 

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us. 

Hail Mary . . . 

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, 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. 

---

"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28) 

 "Blessed are you among women,
 and blessed is the fruit of your womb"
(Lk 1:42). 

Regina Coeli 
Queen of Heaven, rejoice. Alleluia.
For He, whom thou wast worthy 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.


Let us pray
O God, Who by the Resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, hast been pleased to give joy to the whole world, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may attain the joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.


 
SOURCES: 
http://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/regina-coeli.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oncdNKUK8U
http://romans8v29.blogspot.com/2010/05/returning-to-angelus.html
http://catholicism.about.com/od/prayers/qt/Angelus.htm
http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/Angelus.htm