Today, as we begin to close out the month of October — the month of angels, the Roman Catholic Church celebrates and remembers the life of Blessed Angelus of Acri. Luke Anthony Falcone first entered the Capuchin novitiate in November 1689 and was given the name Brother Angelus — a name meaning angel.

The All Saints and Martyrs blog has a wonderful biography of Blessed Angelus here. His was an interesting life and like St. Abramius who was commemorated in the Orthodox Church yesterday and who we discussed yesterday, we can learn much about prayer, perseverance and standing strong against temptation from Blessed Angelus of Acri.

Recalling Blessed Angelus’ life today, reminded me of that beautiful devotional prayer of the same name commemorating the incarnation. It is still prayed publically in many countries and communities today as the Angelus bells ring out at 6am, noon, and 6pm to announce the Angelus prayer time. Many Franciscan communities, like the Capuchins that Blessed Angelus of Acri was a member of, still pray the Angelus in their communities three times a day.

I thought as we close out this month of angels and we recall the life of Blessed Angelus of Acri, learning or refreshing our memory of that blessed prayer by the same name and calling to mind the context in which it was traditionally prayed in Catholic communities so long ago would perhaps enrich and bless our lives today. Praying it how it was traditionally prayed at 6am (beginning of the day), noon (middle of the day) and 6pm (end of the day) can give us a cosmic awareness of the impact of Christ’s Incarnation as we ourselves begin, go through, and end our daily routine.

LEADER: The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
ALL RESPOND: And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
ALL PRAY: 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.
LEADER: Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
ALL RESPOND: Be it done unto me according to thy word.
ALL PRAY: 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.
LEADER: And the Word was made flesh.
(bowing)
ALL RESPOND: And dwelt amongst us.
ALL PRAY: 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.
LEADER: Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
ALL RESPOND: That we might be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
LEADER: Let us pray,
ALL PRAY: Pour forth, we beseech Thee, Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that, as we have known the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, by the message of an angel, so by His Passion and Cross we may be brought to the glory of the Resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord.
ALL RESPOND: Amen.

Blessed Angelus, pray for us.

Originally published October 30, 2014