The Angelus . . .

I always consider myself very fortunate in that we can hear the Angelus bell of our local church from inside our house.

This evening ours was a very quiet household, not that we're particularly noisy at the best of times. I was sitting at the computer, the Pater Familias was similarly quiet and Our Eldest was not yet home from work.

6pm and the bell rang out clearly three times. Occasionally I also hear it at midday on my day off if I'm at home or in the garden or walking around locally.

I love this sound. It sums up so much for me in just the three rings of the bell.

I love that it reminds me of the continuity of our faith. I always picture the famous Millet painting of the workers in the field pausing in their work to pray this simple prayer.

I too, can easily pause in whatever I am doing to spend the few minutes it takes to pray the Angelus prayer.

I was prompted to do a little research as I know very little about the origins of the Angelus.

The prayer in the form we know it today dates from the first half of the Sixteenth Century but the practice of reciting the Hail Mary three times in a row daily dates from at least the Twelfth Century. St Anthony of Padua strongly recommended it, and St Bonaventure, amongst others.

The ringing of a bell was introduced at this time so that all the faithful would know that after Compline it was time to recite the Hail Mary.

Pope Sixtus IV in 1475 endowed the recitation of the Angelus at noon with an indulgence, and this was extended by Pope Leo X to those who recited it in the morning, at noon and in the evening.

It is of course particularly relevant during Advent as we prepare for Our Lord's coming at Christmas as it is a devotion based on the Annunciation, the message of the Incarnation delivered by the Angel to Mary.

Feast of the Presentation, Candlemas . . .

The Feast of the Presentation is one of those feasts that, as a new Catholic, at first when I saw it listed in the Ordo, I asked myself, 'Presentation? What's that all about?'

To the uninitiated, it's not immediately obvious. Who or what is presented, to whom, and why?

Like very many other things in the Catholic faith, some of the meaning/origin of this feast has slowly been revealed to me (not in the sense of divine revelation, although, I suppose one could argue that the Lord uses people and things for his own purposes . . . ) Anyway, I digress.

As I became more familiar with praying the Rosary and the various 'mysteries' on which we meditate, I learned a little more about this joyful mystery of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple.

It refers of course to the presentation of Christ in the Temple, as, following Jewish tradition, every first-born child was to be presented to God. Also, again according to Jewish tradition, Mary would have been considered 'unclean' for 7 days following the birth of her child and would not be considered 'purified' until after another 33 days, bringing the total to 40 days after the birth of Christ.

Coincidentally, this is about the same period of time, I remember, having to present myself and our baby to our GP following the birth of our children for the '6 week check' for both mother and child. I wonder if this is still the case?

So it is really a combination of events that are being celebrated; both the presentation of the first-born child to God and the ritual purification of His mother Mary.

Of course the other significant happening at the time was the prayerful exclamation by Simeon giving thanks to the Lord on seeing the Messiah . . .

'At last, all -powerful Master,

you give leave to your servant

to go in peace, according to your promise.

For my eyes have seen your salvation

which you have prepared for all nations,

the light to enlighten the Gentiles

and give glory to Israel, your people.'

This beautiful prayer which we recite during Night Prayer throughout the year.

Finally, one more time when I remember hearing the Feast of the Presentation being mentioned is in relation to the Season of Christmas.

Quite early on, I learned that Christmas does not in fact end after the 'Twelve Days of Christmas' but continues up to to the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord and some say they even leave their crib in place until the Feast of the Presentation when Christmas may by considered well and truly over.

As to the name 'Candlemas'; this refers to the practice of lighting candles and processing into Mass on this day symbolising Christ's entrance into the temple. Candles are usually blessed in churches on this feast too.

I didn't mean to go rambling on so long when I started to just jot down a few thoughts about the feast. In fact what started me off was again something to do with the Divine Office.

We have been praying the Alma Redemptoris at Evening Prayer since Advent and will now revert to another Marian anthem such as the Ave Regina Caelorum. For one last time . . .

'Mother of Christ! hear thou thy people's cry,

Star of the deep, and portal of the sky!

Mother of him who thee from nothing made,

Sinking we strive, and call to thee for aid;

Oh, by that joy which Gabriel brought to thee,

Thou Virgin first and last, let us they mercy see.'

I've been tagged! . . .

I've been tagged by both Breadgirl and Kee to complete the meme begun by Mac that's doing the rounds at the moment so I guess I'd better knuckle down and get on with it. Thanks to both of you for thinking of me.

The rules of the meme as posted on Mac's blog 'Mulier Fortis' are:

Name your three most favourite prayers, and explain why they're your favourites. Then tag five bloggers - give them a link, and then go and tell them they have been tagged. Finally, tell the person who tagged you that you've completed the meme... The Liturgy and the Sacraments are off limits here. I'm more interested in people's favourite devotional prayers.

As this meme has been around for a little while now, it's very difficult to choose prayers that no one has chosen so I'm not going to avoid choosing the Hail Mary as my first and most obvious choice. It's the first prayer that I think of when I want to pray for any reason. Whether it's a quick 'arrow' prayer during the day when something happens or as part of the Rosary when I have more time to prayer it's always the first prayer that enters my head.

My second choice is the Prayer of St Richard of Chichester. This is one of those prayers that I remember from childhood. Not being brought up a Catholic I didn't attend a Catholic school but the local county primary school and each morning we had assembly which always included hymns and prayers and this was one of the prayers that we prayed often and has stayed with me.

Prayer of St. Richard of Chichester

Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ,

For all the benefits thou hast won for me,

For all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me.

O most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother,

May I know thee more clearly, Love thee more dearly,

And follow thee more nearly: For ever and ever. Amen.

St. Richard Chichester (1197-1253)

My third prayer is another prayer from my childhood. I think prayers learnt as a child are never forgotten and we grow into understanding them which is why I think it is so important to teach our children the formal prayers that we learnt ourselves.

Being brought up in the Anglican church, before receiving 'Holy Communion' we would prayer Thomas Cranmer's 'Prayer of humble access'.

We do not presume to come to this your table, merciful Lord,

trusting in our own righteousness,

but in your manifold and great mercies.

We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table.

But you are the same Lord, whose nature is always to have mercy:

Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ,

and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body,

and our souls washed through his most precious blood,

and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.

This may be heretical but I still think that beautiful prayer says so much more than our own much briefer, 'Lord, I am not worthy to receive you but only say the word and I shall be healed.'

That's the meme completed, now comes the hard part - who to tag (excluding clergy) as most of the people I would have tagged have already taken part.

I tag:

Battlements of Rubies

Campionist

Veni Sancte Spiritus

Mother's Pride

In Terra Aliena

Some of these bloggers have been fairly quiet recently so maybe it might encourage them to get blogging again.

St Monica . . .

I've always had a soft spot for St Monica . . . at least once I found out a little about her life. What mother could not help but identify with her tears of anguish over her wayward son.

But I love a happy ending and it's a great comfort to know that finally after years of prayers and tears she achieved the goal she sought and her son St Augustine finally converted and was baptised. The rest is, as they say, history!

Here's a prayer for all parents:

Parents’ Prayer to St. Monica

St. Monica, patron of Christian parents,

we entrust to your protection the children

whose names you can read in our hearts.

Pray for them that they may be granted

strength to combat weakness,

victory over temptation,

guidance to resolve their doubts

and success in all their undertakings.

May they enjoy good health of mind and body,

see beauty and worth in all created things,

and serve the Lord with firm faith,

joyful hope and enduring love. Amen.