The Angelus is a devotion that focuses our attention on the Incarnation. Its name comes from its opening word in Latin. It is prayed by reciting three Biblical verses narrating the mystery, alternating with the prayer “Hail Mary”. It is an ancient devotion, already well established 700 years ago. It probably originated with the 11th-century monastic custom of reciting three Hail Marys during the evening bells. The first written documentation stems from the 1260s. The devotion has traditionally been recited in churches, convents, and monasteries three times daily: 6:00am, noon, and 6:00pm, and some churches still follow the devotion, while many people pray it at home. The Angelus is often accompanied by the ringing of the Angelus bell. The manner of ringing the Angelus – the triple stroke repeated three times, followed by a longer peal – is also long established, and was described in the 15th-century constitutions of Syon monastery.

The Angel of the LORD declared unto Mary, 
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary...

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 might 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