Saying the Angelus

 
Angelus domini nuntiavit Mariae   [i]  
et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
 
Ave, Maria,        the Angel said,
Gratia plena,                 full of grace you were.
Dominus tecum,                         the Holy Spirit welcome,
Benedicta tu in mulieribus:                    Earth’s only pure child,
Et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesu :    pure Life born to bring life
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae:  
      May we be born into Jesus, and live in him forever.

* - * - *
                                               
Ecce ancille Domini,
fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to thy word.
 
Ave, Maria,      we look to thee,
Gratia plena,           unfailing,
Dominus tecum,                         you accepted His will,
Benedicta tu in mulieribus:         a life of acquiescence,
Et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesu: “Thy will be done,” his chalice
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae : 
      May we know, do, and love the will of God.

* - * - *

Et Verbum Caro factum est,
et habitavit in nobis.
V. And the Word was made flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.
 
Ave, Maria,        one still must live,
Gratia plena,           your life fulfilled,
Dominus tecum,                       while He died beside you,
Benedicta tu in mulieribus :    giving us Jesus, dearer than life,
Et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesu:  His fullness of life was death
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae :
      In union with His holy sacrifice,
            may we love you and Jesus as you love
                                                 
    * - * - *
 
Gratiam tuam quaesumus, Domine,
mentibus nostris infunde,
ut qui, Angelo nuntiante,
Christi Filii tui incarnationem cognovimus,
per passionem ejus et crucem
ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur.
 
 Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord,
Thy grace into our hearts;
that we to whom, by the message of an angel,
the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son, was made known
may by His Passion and Cross
be brought to the glory of His Resurrection.
 
* - * - *                               
 
As the Angel’s message brought joy,
          as members of Jesus may we find joy.
 
As the Angel’s message met a graceful heart,
          so may the events of our lives.
 
As the Angel’s message brought the birth of Jesus,
          may His life continue in us,
 
As Mary’s lips revealed the conception,
          may her prayers bring us into His life.
 
                             (Boat trip, Yokohama  to Vietnam, 1961)


[i]   “Angelus”.  Wikipedia.org.{https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelus}  (accessed December1, 2021): 
 “The Angelus  (Latin for “angel”)   is a Catholic devotion commemorating the Incarnation.  As with many Catholic prayers, the name ‘Angelus’ is derived from its incipit – the first few words of the text.  The devotion is practiced by reciting as ‘versicle and response,’ three Biblical verses narrating the mystery, while meditating on the prayer ‘Hail Mary.’  ”