DOCSLIB.ORG

What Is the Angelus

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
What Is the Angelus What is the Angelus The Angelus, a prayer with roots back to the 13th century, is a Marian devotion that is traditionally recited three times a day, usually at 9, noon, and 6. Each recitation includes three Hail Marys with antiphons and responses in between each. The genius of this devotion, especially in a place of catechesis like a Catholic school, is that it focuses on the Incarnation (an essential mystery of our faith) and that its practice mirrors its content. A prayer that mirrors its content Praying the Angelus interrupts whatever task you are in, just as the arrival of Christ in the Incarnation interrupts the world. At our school, the example set by teachers shows the students how to make space for God and prayer amidst daily life. Far from being a distraction, the welcome interruption of the Angelus teaches a life-long lesson: no activity is more important than prayer—not work, not study, not conversation, not even recess. The injunction to pray also reminds us of the meaning of our work, that we have been invited to a service of love by the God who first loved us. Finally, every invitation to pray the Angelus is an opportunity to speak our own “yes” to God because every invitation to pray the Angelus is a moment of choice. Will I allow God to interrupt and enter this moment of my life? Or, will I favor the task at hand? For adults and children alike, the practice of saying “yes” in the Angelus is a two-fold practice of saying “yes” to God. First, by accepting the invitation to pray and, second, by repeating the words of Mary, “Be it done unto me according to thy word.” The hope and wisdom of the prayer is that day after day the “yes” to God becomes easier and the “yes” of Mary becomes our own. How to pray the Angelus To begin praying the Angelus, set a time to pray it once each day. You can associate it with a regular habit (like every day when you start your lunch break) or use an alarm on your phone, computer or other device to remind you. Once you establish the habit of praying the Angelus once daily, you’ll likely have it memorized and adding the two other times will be a natural next step. The text of the Angelus is included below. As when praying the Creed at Mass, we traditionally bow in the Angelus for the line “and dwelt among us” to honor the moment of the Incarnation. The Angelus ℣.​ The Angel of the LORD declared unto Mary, ℟.​ And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, full of grace; the LORD is with thee: blessed art thou amongst 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. ℣.​ Behold the handmaid of the LORD. ℟.​ Be it done unto me according to thy word. Hail Mary, full of grace; the LORD is with thee: blessed art thou amongst 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. ℣.​ And the Word was made flesh. ℟.​ And dwelt among us. (Bowing slightly.) Hail Mary, full of grace; the LORD is with thee: blessed art thou amongst 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. ℣.​ 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. June is the month specially dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Let us present our prayers, supplications and need to the Most Sacred of Jesus PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS O Divine Heart of Jesus, I adore Thee with all the powers of my soul; I consecrate them to Thee forever, with all my thoughts, words, and actions, and my whole self. I desire to adore Thee, to love Thee, and to glorify Thee, in the same manner, as far as possible, as Thou doest adore love and glorify Thy Eternal Father. Be Thou, I beseech Thee, the Restorer of my weakness, and the Protector of my life, my refuge, and my asylum at the hour of my death. I conjure Thee, by the sighs and anguish in which Thou wert immersed for me during the whole course of Thy mortal life, to grant me a true contrition for my sins, a contempt of earthly things, an ardent desire of eternal glory, confidence in Thine infinite merits, and final perseverance in Thy grace. O Heart of Jesus, all love, I offer Thee these humble prayers for myself, and for all those who unite in spirit with me in adoring Thee. Vouchsafe, through Thine infinite goodness, to receive and hear them; above all, for him who among us shall first depart from this mortal life. O amiable Heart of my Savior, pour down upon him, in the agony of death, Thine interior consolations; receive him into Thy sacred Wounds; purify him from every defilement in this furnace of love, that Thou may grant him admittance into Thy glory, where he may become intercessor, before Thy presence, for all those who remain in this exile. O Most Holy Heart of my dearly beloved Jesus, I desire to renew and to offer Thee these acts of adoration, and these prayers, every moment I breathe, to the end of my life, for myself, a miserable sinner, and for all who are associated with me to adore Thee. I recommend to Thee, O my Jesus, the holy Catholic Church, Thy beloved spouse and our true mother; also, the souls who are undergoing Thy justice and all poor sinners, the afflicted, the agonizing, and all mankind. Do not permit Thy Blood, poured out for them, to become useless to them. Vouchsafe, finally, to apply it for the relief of the souls in purgatory, and for those in particular who, during life, were wont devoutly to adore Thee. O most amiable Heart of Mary, the most pure of all hearts of creatures, and the most replete with the love of the Heart of Jesus, at the same time most merciful towards us, poor sinners, obtain for us, from the Heart of our Redeemer, the graces we ask of thee. Mother of mercy, one look from thee, one movement of Thy Heart, burning with love for that of Jesus, thy divine Son, can fully console us. Grant us, therefore, this favor; and then this divine Heart of Jesus, through the filial love which it bore, and always will bear towards thee, shall not fail to hear and answer our request. PRAYER FOR THE HOLY FATHER Almighty and everlasting God, have mercy upon thy servant, Pope Francis, our Supreme Pontiff, and direct him, according to Thy loving kindness, in the way of eternal salvation; that, of Thy gift, he may ever desire that which is pleasing unto Thee and may accomplish it with all his might. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen. Our Father…. Hail Mary … In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. th Beginning June 10 ​ we will also do a 9-day prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. ​ ​ Novena Prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus when ready… please stay tuned… .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Motet: Mater Dei Plena/Mater Virgo Pia/EIUS (Mo
    Motet: Mater dei plena/Mater virgo pia/EIUS (Mo 66) Triplum Mater dei plena gratia ostium credencium Mother of God, full of grace, gate of believers, path of our faith, fidei nostre via, errantium tu consilia may you scatter the counsels of the disbelievers and the disipes et studia discrepantium endeavors of the heretics, who are a harmful fire -- they had no incendium [rubor non fuit] noxium. shame. Cleanse the harmful fires of their hearts through your Tu noxia cordium incendia Son, who created all things! purga per filium, qui creavit omnia. Motetus Mater virgo pia, omnium refugium, Mother, pious Virgin, refuge of mankind, mother innocent of mater maris nescia, regia vernans prosapia man, burgeoning with royal offspring, lily of the valleys, with lilium convallium prece previa your prayer going on before, you make your Son kind to us on filium presta propicium nobis in via, our path, that the Church of the faithful may in glory see in the ut in patria regem pium videat in gloria kingdom its pious King! fidelium ecclesia. Tenor EIUS EIUS Motet: A la clarte qui tout/ET ILLUMINA[RE] (Mo 189) Motetus A la clarte qui tout enlumina nostre grant tenebror, To the brightness which illumined our great darkness, to the lady a la dame qui si grant mecine a contre toute dolor with fine medicine for every pain, should all sinners come to doivent venir trestuit li pecheor become her servants, night and day. To none other should one et devenir si serjant nuit et jour. give his heart, his person, or his love than to the sweet mother of N’autrui ne doit nus doner son cuer, son cors ne s’amour our creator, fors a la douce mere au creatour, the virgin maid of such saintly nature; she is the new-blown rose vierge pucele et de si saint atour, and the flower among ladies.
    [Show full text]
  • The Holy See
    The Holy See POPE JOHN PAUL II GENERAL AUDIENCE Wednesday, 5 November 1997 We can count on Mary’s intercession 1. Down the centuries Marian devotion has enjoyed an interrupted development. In addition to the traditional liturgical feasts dedicated to the Lord’s Mother, there has been a flowering of countless expressions of piety, often approved and encouraged by the Church’s Magisterium. Many Marian devotions and prayers are an extension of the liturgy itself and have sometimes contributed to its overall enrichment, as is the case with the Office in honour of the Blessed Virgin and other pious compositions which have become part of the Breviary. The first known Marian invocation goes back to the third century and begins with the words: "We fly to thy patronage (Sub tuum praesidium), O holy Mother of God...". However, since the 14th century the most common prayer among Christians has been the "Hail Mary". By repeating the first words the angel addressed to Mary, it leads the faithful to contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation. The Latin word "Ave" translates the Greek word "Chaire": it is an invitation to joy and could be translated "Rejoice". The Eastern hymn "Akathistos" repeatedly stresses this "rejoice". In the "Hail Mary" the Blessed Virgin is called "full of grace" and is thus recognized for the perfection and beauty of her soul. The phrase "The Lord is with thee" reveals God’s special personal relationship with Mary, which fits into the great plan for his covenant with all humanity. Next, the statement "Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus" expresses the fulfilment of the divine plan in the Daughter of Zion’s virginal body.
    [Show full text]
  • May the Month of Mary Mother of Jesus
    MAY IS THE MONTH WE ESPECIALLY ASK MARY MOTHER OF JESUS TO ADD HER PRAYERS TO OURS FOR THE NEEDS OF THE WORLD The Annunciation Mary and the Angel Gabriel Latin America Mary greets Elizabeth her cousin and mother of John the Baptist. Africa 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. Amen An image of Our Lady of the Philippines For Christians May traditionally is a month of honouring Mary the mother of Jesus. During this month we particularly turn to Mary asking her to add her prayers to our own for the needs of our world. A Modern Magnificat (The Song of Mary) My soul praises the greatness of our God and my spirit rejoices in our salvation! You, God, have taken notice of me, and now all generations call me blessed. In your love, you have done great things, your name is holy as is Jesus, the child of my body To those who recognize your love you show mercy for all time. Listen! God has done wonderful things. The proud are scattered and the regal brought down. God raises up the humble and feeds the hungry while the rich leave empty handed. God enfolds the people, honouring the mercy promised from of old. For you God made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham, Sarah and their children forever. Praise the name of God! PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO ARE GRIEVING.
    [Show full text]
  • Hail Mary Prayer Sheet 2021
    HAIL MARY Word of the Week Luke 1: 46-55 Mary's Song of Praise And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has look with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surly, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, and to Abraham and to his descendants forever." PRAYER FOR THE WEEK 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. Amen. Hail Mary Something to think about... Mary the Mother of God, is the most important woman to have ever lived. Through her, God was able to become human, and be with us on earth. Mary points us towards Jesus. She helps us to get to know Jesus better. She reflects God's light so that we can be who God calls us to be, so that we can respond to God's plan in our life, and say our yes to God.
    [Show full text]
  • • Both Magnificat (
    FAITH FORMATION APRIL 5d, 2020 PALM SUNDAY “THE PASSION OF THE LORD” PARISH WEBSITE INFORMATION– Please visit the Parish Website @ ICChurchmd.org often to learn about Parish and Faith Formation events. If you have any questions, please contact me (240-577-0923 or [email protected]). TO ALL OF OUR FAITH FORMATION FAMILIES: In this time of trouble and turmoil; Jesus said “TRUST IN ME AND BE NOT AFRAID”. I will be sending out weekly notices for all parents/students and teachers to keep you abreast of what is happening both in our parish and the Archdiocese of Washington. CATECHETICAL OFFICE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF WASHINGTON SUGGESTED PRAYERS AND ACTIVITIES LIST: Please review this list each week. We will be adding additional prayers and Activities from the Archdiocese when we receive them. • Both Magnificat (https://us.magnificat.net/free) and Give Us This Day (https://giveusthisday.org/Digital), are offering free access to their online daily prayer subscriptions. • https://formed.org/faithathome. For children, having a family movie night is a good option. The Brother Francis series is great for youngest children (under 8), The Witness Trilogy (episode 1) is a good Lenten option for older students. I encourage parents to watch and discuss together with their children. Important Note: Upon checking out, total will show $9.99 mo. This charge will only take place after 40 days. Feel free to cancel before then. Maybe set a calendar reminder! • The Archdiocese of Washington will be live-streaming Holy Week Masses at St. Matthew’s Cathedral with Archbishop Gregory on the ADW YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/washarchdiocese o Palm Sunday, April 5, 10:00 a.m.
    [Show full text]
  • Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ. King of Endless Glory
    Thursday, March 25, 2021 Annunciation of Our Lord Confirmation Masses Gathering Hymn – Come Holy Ghost Text: Psalm 104; Scott Soper Tune: Scott Soper 1. Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest, And in our hearts take up Thy 3. O Holy Ghost, through thee alone, Know we the Father rest; Come with thy grace and heav'nly aid to fill our hearts and the Son; Be this our firm unchanging creed, That thou which thou hast made, To fill our hearts which Thou has made. dost from them both proceed, That thou dost from them 2. O Comforter, to thee we cry, Thou heav'nly gift of God most both proceed. 4. Praise we the Lord, Father and Son, And Holy Spirit with high; Thou fount of life, and fire of love, And sweet anointing them one; And may the Son on us bestow all gifts that from above, And sweet anointing from above. from the Spirit flow, All gifts that from the Spirit flow. Greeting and Sign of the Cross Penitential Rite Gloria (chant) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
    [Show full text]
  • Angelus Communications 16 Saw Mill Way, Littleborough, Lancs
    ANGELUS COMMUNICATIONS 16 SAW MILL WAY, LITTLEBOROUGH, LANCS. OL15 8SD TEL/FAX 01706 372674 STOCK LIST FEBRUARY 2008 DESCRIPTION PRICE TYPE UK P&P “ANNE” A LAY APOSTLE CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN £15.50 BOOK £2.00 THE MIST OF MERCEY £12.50 BOOK £2.00 DIRECTION FOR OUR TIMES: VOL 1 – SPIRITUALITY £3.50 BOOK £0.65 VOL 2 – CONVERSATION WITH THE EUCHARISTIC £0.65 HEART OF JESUS £3.50 BOOK VOL 3 – (I) GOD THE FATHER SPEAKS TO HIS £0.65 CHILDREN (II) THE BLESSED MOTHER SPEAKS TO HER BISHOPS PRIESTS… £3.50 BOOK VOL 4 – (I) JESUS THE KING £0.65 (II) HEAVEN SPEAKS TO PRIESTS (III) JESUS SPEAKS TO SINNERS £3.50 BOOK VOL 6 – HEAVEN SPEAKS TO FAMILIES £3.50 BOOK £0.65 VOL 7 –GREETINGS FROM HEAVEN £3.50 BOOK £0.65 VOL 9 - ANGELS £3.50 BOOK £0.65 VOL 10 - JESUS SPEAKS TO HIS APOSTLES £3.50 BOOK £0.65 TONY HICKEY EUCHARISTIC REIGN OF JESUS, BOX 1 (T. Hickey) £9.95 4 AUDIOS £1.50 MARY; COREDEMPTRIX, MEDIATRIX & ADVOCATE (T. Hickey) £3.50 CASSETTE £0.55 MEDJUGORJE, OUR LADY'S BIRTHDAY & St. MARY MAJOR CHURCH. £2.95 CASSETTE £0.55 MEDJUGORJE, OCTOBER, A MONTH OF SIGNS (T. Hickey) £2.95 CASSETTE £0.55 MEDJUGORJE, THE EUCHARIST & POPE JOHN PAUL II's ENCYCLICAL £2.95 CASSETTE £0.55 MARY GUIDING STAR (T. Hickey) £3.50 CASSETTE £0.55 PENANCE - FASTING (Tony Hickey) £2.95 CASSETTE £0.55 REFLECTIONS ON GOD THE FATHER, some (T. Hickey) £14.95 6 AUDIOS £2.00 SEEKING THE FACE OF CHRIST (T.
    [Show full text]
  • Five Faces of Mary
    Vincentiana Volume 43 Number 2 Vol. 43, No. 2 Article 10 3-1999 Five Faces of Mary Robert P. Maloney C.M. Follow this and additional works at: https://via.library.depaul.edu/vincentiana Part of the Catholic Studies Commons, Comparative Methodologies and Theories Commons, History of Christianity Commons, Liturgy and Worship Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Maloney, Robert P. C.M. (1999) "Five Faces of Mary," Vincentiana: Vol. 43 : No. 2 , Article 10. Available at: https://via.library.depaul.edu/vincentiana/vol43/iss2/10 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Vincentian Journals and Publications at Via Sapientiae. It has been accepted for inclusion in Vincentiana by an authorized editor of Via Sapientiae. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Five Faces of Mary Robert P. Maloney, C.M. We know very little about the Virgin Mary, though the little we know is tantalizing. She played, of course, a crucial role in the story of Jesus and has had an enormous influence in the history of Christianity. The major creeds profess that Jesus was "conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary." Mary's impact on Christian piety has been powerful. She is the first among the saints to whom we unite our voices in prayers of praise and petition. Is there any prayer that has been said more frequently than the Hail Mary? On the affective side, Mary has come to symbolize maternal listening for countless people, becoming for them, as a modern writer puts it, "an icon of the tenderness of God."1 On the level of moral response, Christians, reflecting on the New Testament, regard Mary as the ideal disciple, the first among the saints.
    [Show full text]
  • The Magnificat the Center of Power in Favor of the Marginalized and Challenges Us to Do Likewise
    his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy (1:54). Magnificat. It is a journey of prophetic discipleship Our Sunday Visitor engages, catechizes, and Mary’s Magnificent Prayer: The prayer is rounded off by mention of the covenant and witness. “Blessed rather are those who hear the inspires millions of Catholics with relevant and promise God made “to Abraham and to his posterity word of God and keep it!” (Lk 11:28). Mary is indeed easy-to-read pamphlets like this one. The wide [descendants] forever” (1:55). God will bypass those at blessed for she has heard God’s word in her life and range of topics available includes: The Magnificat the center of power in favor of the marginalized and challenges us to do likewise. • Church teachings the lowly. • The sacraments For Reflection: When have you heard God’s • Current events For Reflection: In Mary’s prayer, the lowly are word in your life? How did you respond? • Seasonal themes raised up. What does this mean in our day and • Stewardship • Papal teachings age? Praying with The Magnificat The Magnificat is an invitation for all of us to pray To view our current offerings and see sample PDFs and praise God. When we pray the Magnificat we pray online, visit osv.com/pamphlets. with Mary to God. Consider making the Magnificat part of your daily prayer practice. In this way, you will join the whole Church as it daily prays with Mary’s Inc. Magnificat at evening prayer (vespers). If we pray the Magnificat, we must be willing to Only.
    [Show full text]
  • Rosary for Peace
    Afor theRosary national day offor prayer • januaryPeace 1, 2002 Introduction She is the dawn of peace shining in the darkness n the summer of 1915, the vicious brutality of of a world out of joint; she never ceases to the “war to end all wars” had enshrouded the implore her Son for peace although his hour is hill towns of Italy and the streets of Rome. By not yet come (cf. Jn 2:4); she always intervenes I the time Pope Benedict XV had celebrated the on behalf of sorrowing humanity in the hour of Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, sixty thou- danger; today she who is the mother of many sand mothers had buried their sons; while later that orphans and our advocate in this tremendous same year, as he led the Church in commemorating catastrophe will most quickly hear our prayers. the feast of the Immaculate Conception, that number had reached a quarter of a million. The day after the horrors of September 11, 2001, Pope John Paul II responded with a prayer to “the Blessed Thus, amidst the fear and uncertainty of a dark Virgin, Mother of Mercy, [to] fill the hearts of all Christmas Eve, the Holy Father gathered his cardinals with wise thoughts and peaceful intentions.”1 Such a together to announce a plan for peace. His plan first reaction is expected in one who has repeatedly would marshal an army of prayers who would storm urged us to seek the intercession of the Blessed Virgin heaven with petitions to “the Mother of the Prince of Mary, under the title “Queen of Peace.” Seven years Peace, Mediatrix between rebellious man and the ago, on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, merciful God.” Confident that “with God all things the Holy Father urged all who would be peace makers are possible,” Pope Benedict XV inserted the name of to look to the example of the Blessed Virgin: “Queen of Peace” into the Marian Litany of Loreto.
    [Show full text]
  • Sung Mass at Noon - Sixteenth Sunday After Trinity
    All Saints Margaret Street - Sung Mass at Noon - Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity ANGELUS (Memorial of the Incarnation) is said The Angel of the Lord brought tidings to Mary. And she conceived by the Holy Ghost. 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. Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me according to thy word. 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. And the Word was made flesh. And dwelt among us. 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. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. We beseech thee, O Lord, pour thy grace into our hearts; that as we have known the Incarnation of thy 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. ENTRANCE CHANT All that you have done to us, O Lord, you have done with true judgement, for we have sinned against you and not obeyed your commandments.
    [Show full text]
  • What Is the Angelus? “The Angel of the Lord Declared Unto Mary…” D.D. Emmons the Catholic Answer
    What Is the Angelus? “The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary…” D.D. Emmons The Catholic Answer 4/4/2011 Among our many Catholic devotions, few are more beautiful or have been contemplated more often than the Angelus. Designed to commemorate the mystery of the Incarnation and pay homage to Mary’s role in salvation history, it has long been part of Catholic life. Around the world, three times every day, the faithful stop whatever they are doing and with the words “The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary” begin this simple yet beautiful prayer. But why do we say the Angelus at all, much less three times a day? A review of Church history shows that this devotion did not appear suddenly, but developed over several centuries. Called By the Bell Most Church historians agree that the Angelus can be traced back to 11th- century Italy, where Franciscan monks said three Hail Marys during night prayers, at the last bell of the day. Over time, pastors encouraged their Catholic flocks to end each day in a similar fashion by saying three Hail Marys. In the villages, as in the monasteries, a bell was rung at the close of the day reminding the laity of this special prayer time. The evening devotional practice soon spread to other parts of Christendom, including England. Toward the end of the 11th century, the Normans invaded and occupied England. In order to ensure control of the populace, the Normans rang a curfew bell at the end of each day reminding the locals to extinguish all fires, get off the streets and retire to their homes.
    [Show full text]