Feast of the Annunciation today

The Annunciation by Botticelli

Today is the Feast of the Annunciation. Our church bell, the Immaculate Conception Bell at St. Landry Catholic Church, has very strong ties to this feast.

It's name ... the Immaculate Conception ... refers to the Marian dogma that Mary was conceived without sin.

Our bell also tolls the Angelus prayer 3 times a day.

The Angelus is a ringing of the bell at 6:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. This custom of ringing developed over many years in the middle ages. It is a ring where there is a toll for three times, then a space of time followed by another ring of three tolls, then a second space of time followed by a third ring of three tolls, then a third space of time followed by a swinging ring.

The word Angelus means Angel. It is a prayer coming from the Bible calling to mind the Incarnation of Jesus. This is taken from St. Luke 1:26-38. “The angel of the Lord announced unto Mary.” In Latin it is “Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ.” Thus the naming of the prayer and ring of the bell is called Angelus.

In the development of the custom of three rings of the Angelus, the first development was to ring the Angelus at the evening. This ringing was focused on the Incarnation of Jesus which happened in the evening. Later the custom developed to ring the Angelus also in the morning. Here the focus was on Jesus’ resurrection which happened in the morning. As time continued, a third ringing at noon was added. This third ringing was focused on Jesus’ death which happened around noon.

During the year the Angelus is said. During Easter time the Regina Caeli (Queen of Heaven) is said.

The Angelus

(Prayer starts with bell ringing 3 times here)

V. The angel of the Lord announced unto Mary.
R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

(Bell rings 3 times here)

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to your Word.

Hail Mary...
(Bell rings 3 times here)

V. And the Word was made flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary...
(Bell swings here)

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: We beseech you, O Lord, pour your grace into our hearts, that as we have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ by the message of an angel, so by his cross and passion we may be brought to the glory of his resurrection; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Queen of Heaven – Regina Caeli(Said during Easter Season)

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
For He whom you did merit 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. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray. O God, who gave joy to the world through the
resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we
beseech You, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary,
His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.
Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Anyone who would like to see the bell ringing the Angelus can see it on YouTube. The link to St. Landry Catholic Church’s YouTube channel is http://www.youtube.com/user/StLandryCatholic. The testing of the bell on October 30, 2010 can be seen.