Angelus Domini

V. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae.

The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.

R. Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.

And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Ave Maria, gratia plena; Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus.

Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

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

V. Ecce ancilla Domini,

Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

R. Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.

Be it done unto me according to thy word.

Ave Maria, gratia plena; Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus.

Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

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

V. Et Verbum caro factum est,

And the Word was made flesh.

R. Et habitavit in nobis.

And dwelt among us.

Ave Maria, gratia plena; Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus.

Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

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

V. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genetrix,

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Oremus. Gratiam tuam, quaesumus, Domine, mentibus nostris infunde; ut qui, Angelo nuntiante, Christi Filii tui incarnationem cognovimus, per passionem eius et crucem ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur.

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.

Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

About the Angelus Domini

The Angelus is the Church's daily commemoration of the mystery of the Incarnation. Prayed at six in the morning, at noon, and at six in the evening, it consists of three short versicles drawn from the Annunciation narrative, each followed by an Ave Maria, and concluded with a collect. The custom of pausing three times a day to recall the Word becoming flesh has shaped Catholic life for nearly a millennium.

When prayed: Prayed three times daily — at 6 AM, noon, and 6 PM — traditionally announced by the ringing of the Angelus bell.

Line-by-line translation

The Latin text of the Angelus Domini alongside its English translation, line by line.

Latin	English
V. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae.	The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.	And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Ave Maria, gratia plena; Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus.	Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.	Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
V. Ecce ancilla Domini,	Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.	Be it done unto me according to thy word.
Ave Maria, gratia plena; Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus.	Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.	Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
V. Et Verbum caro factum est,	And the Word was made flesh.
R. Et habitavit in nobis.	And dwelt among us.
Ave Maria, gratia plena; Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus.	Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.	Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
V. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genetrix,	Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.	That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Oremus. Gratiam tuam, quaesumus, Domine, mentibus nostris infunde; ut qui, Angelo nuntiante, Christi Filii tui incarnationem cognovimus, per passionem eius et crucem ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur.	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.
Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.	Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Vocabulary

Word-by-word definitions and example uses. Tap any word to learn its meaning, then return to the prayer with new ears.

angelus

Definition: angel

Angelus nuntiat bonum. (The angel announces good.)

domini

Definition: of the Lord

Domini voluntas est. (It is the will of the Lord.)

nuntiavit

Definition: announced

Rex victoriae nuntiavit. (The king announced victory.)

mariae

Definition: to Mary

Floribus Mariae dedi. (I gave flowers to Mary.)

Definition: and, also

Sol et luna lucent. (The sun and the moon shine.)

concepit

Definition: conceived

Idea nova concepit. (He conceived a new idea.)

Definition: from, of

De montibus venit. (He comes from the mountains.)

spiritu

Definition: spirit

Spirito laboramus. (We work with spirit.)

sancto

Definition: holy

Templum sancto est. (The temple is holy.)

ave

Definition: hail

Ave, amice! (Hail, friend!)

gratia

Definition: grace

Gratia data est. (Grace is given.)

plena

Definition: full

Casa plena luminis. (The house is full of light.)

dominus

Definition: Lord

Dominus venit. (The Lord comes.)

tecum

Definition: with you

Pax tecum. (Peace be with you.)

benedicta

Definition: blessed

Terra benedicta est. (The land is blessed.)

Definition: you (singular)

Tu amicus es. (You are a friend.)

Definition: in, on

In horto est. (He is in the garden.)

mulieribus

Definition: among women

Laudatur in mulieribus. (She is praised among women.)

fructus

Definition: fruit, produce

Fructus pomorum sunt dulces. (The fruits of the apples are sweet.)

ventris

Definition: of the womb

Crescunt in ventre. (They grow in the womb.)

tui

Definition: your (singular)

Amicus tui sum. (I am your friend.)

iesus

Definition: Jesus

Iesus docebat. (Jesus was teaching.)

sancta

Definition: holy, saint

Sancta civitas est. (It is a holy city.)

mater

Definition: mother

Mater amat filios. (The mother loves her children.)

dei

Definition: of God

Templum Dei est. (It is the temple of God.)

ora

Definition: pray

Ora pro me. (Pray for me.)

pro

Definition: for, on behalf of

Orat pro amicis. (He prays for friends.)

nobis

Definition: us, for us

Donum nobis dedit. (He gave the gift to us.)

peccatoribus

Definition: sinners

Misericordia peccatoribus est. (There is mercy for sinners.)

nunc

Definition: now

Nunc tempus est. (Now is the time.)

hora

Definition: hour

Hora fugit. (The hour flies.)

mortis

Definition: of death

Timor mortis. (Fear of death.)

nostrae

Definition: our (feminine)

Matrem nostram videmus. (We see our mother.)

amen

Definition: amen, truly

Orationem finiunt cum amen. (They end the prayer with amen.)

ecce

Definition: behold

Ecce homo. (Behold the man.)

ancilla

Definition: handmaid, servant

Ancilla laborat. (The handmaid works.)

fiat

Definition: let it be done

Fiat lux. (Let there be light.)

mihi

Definition: to me

Narravit mihi. (He told me.)

secundum

Definition: according to

Secundum legem vivit. (He lives according to the law.)

verbum

Definition: word

Verbum veritatis est. (It is a word of truth.)

tuum

Definition: your (neuter singular)

Domum tuam video. (I see your house.)

caro

Definition: flesh

Caro mollis est. (The flesh is soft.)

factum

Definition: made, done

Factum bene est. (It is well done.)

est

Definition: is

Sol lucet est. (The sun is shining.)

habitavit

Definition: dwelt, lived

Habitavit in urbe. (He lived in the city.)

nostri

Definition: our (plural)

Amici nostri sunt. (They are our friends.)

ora

Definition: pray

Ora pro me. (Pray for me.)

sancta

Definition: holy, saint

Sancta civitas est. (It is a holy city.)

genetrix

Definition: mother

Genetrix laeta est. (The mother is happy.)

Definition: that, in order that

Ut bene vivas. (In order that you may live well.)

digni

Definition: worthy

Digni honore sunt. (They are worthy of honor.)

efficiamur

Definition: may become

Efficiamur amici. (May we become friends.)

promissionibus

Definition: promises

Fidem promissionibus habemus. (We have faith in promises.)

christi

Definition: of Christ

Servus Christi est. (He is a servant of Christ.)

oremus

Definition: let us pray

Oremus pro salute. (Let us pray for health.)

gratiam

Definition: grace (accusative)

Gratiam petimus. (We seek grace.)

tuam

Definition: your (feminine singular)

Domum tuam video. (I see your house.)

quaesumus

Definition: we beseech

Quaeso te, surge. (I beseech you, rise.)

domine

Definition: O Lord

Domine, exaudi. (O Lord, hear us.)

mentibus

Definition: minds

Pacem mentibus quaerimus. (We seek peace in our minds.)

nostris

Definition: our (plural dative)

Liberamentis nostris utimur. (We use our skills.)

infunde

Definition: pour, infuse

Lumen infunde cordi. (Pour the light into the heart.)

qui

Definition: who

Vir qui vocat. (The man who calls.)

angelo

Definition: angel (ablative singular)

Cum angelo venit. (He comes with the angel.)

nuntiante

Definition: announcing

Epistola nuntiante pacem. (A letter announcing peace.)

filii

Definition: son

Filii puer est. (He is the son of the boy.)

tui

Definition: your (singular)

Amicus tui sum. (I am your friend.)

incarnationem

Definition: incarnation

Incarnationem celebramus. (We celebrate the incarnation.)

cognovimus

Definition: we have known

Veritatem cognovimus. (We have known the truth.)

per

Definition: through, by

Per vias ambulamus. (We walk through the streets.)

passionem

Definition: passion, suffering

Passionem eius imitari volumus. (We want to imitate his passion.)

eius

Definition: his, her, its

Domus eius est parva. (His house is small.)

crucem

Definition: cross

Crucem portabat. (He was carrying the cross.)

Definition: to, toward

Ad urbem it. (He goes to the city.)

resurrectionis

Definition: of resurrection

Spes resurrectionis est. (There is hope of resurrection.)

gloriam

Definition: glory

Gloriam Dei cantamus. (We sing the glory of God.)

perducamur

Definition: may be led

Perducamur ad veritatem. (May we be led to the truth.)

eumdem

Definition: the same

Eumdem librum lego. (I read the same book.)

christum

Definition: Christ

Christum sequimur. (We follow Christ.)

dominum

Definition: Lord

Salutamus Dominum. (We greet the Lord.)

nostrum

Definition: our (neuter singular)

Consilium nostrum est. (It is our plan.)

About the Angelus Domini

What is the Angelus?

The Angelus is a brief but profound devotion in which the faithful recall the mystery of the Annunciation — the moment when the Archangel Gabriel announced to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she would conceive the Son of God. It consists of three Scripture-based versicles, three Hail Marys, and a closing prayer, and takes only a minute or two to pray.

When should the Angelus be prayed?

The Angelus is traditionally prayed three times a day: at six o'clock in the morning, at noon, and at six o'clock in the evening, when the Angelus bell rings from parish and monastery towers throughout Christendom. These three pauses — at the start of the workday, at its midpoint, and at its close — sanctify the whole day with the memory of the Incarnation.

What does 'Et Verbum caro factum est' mean?

Et Verbum caro factum est — 'And the Word was made flesh' — is the heart of the Angelus, taken from the Prologue of the Gospel according to St. John (Jn 1:14). At these words, the Church traditionally bows or genuflects in adoration of the mystery: the eternal Word of God becoming a true and mortal human being for our salvation.

Why is the Angelus replaced by the Regina Caeli during Eastertide?

From the Easter Vigil through Pentecost, the Church's joy at the Resurrection is so great that the contemplative Angelus gives way to the Regina Caeli — 'Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia!' — sung in praise of the Risen Christ and His Mother. The two prayers complement each other: the Angelus marks the Incarnation; the Regina Caeli, the Resurrection.

Credo

About the Angelus Domini

Line-by-line translation

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About the Angelus Domini

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