Regina Caeli Laetare, Alleluia!

Many of us will be familiar with the well-known prayer the Angelus. This beautiful prayer tells the story of the Annunciation of the Incarnation by the Angel Gabriel to Mary and her responding 'fiat'.

It is recited daily at 6am, midday and 6pm.  You may be fortunate enough to live near a church that rings the Angelus bell at these times as a reminder to stop for a few moments and pray.  It is a lovely way to sanctify our day.

During the fifty days of Easter (from Easter until Pentecost) the Angelus is replaced with the Regina Caeli, said at the same times during the day. This is an Easter prayer inviting us to rejoice with Mary at the Resurrection of her Son.

Here is a video in which you can hear the Regina Caeli in Latin together with the English translation.

Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia

Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia!

Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. 

For the Lord is risen indeed, alleluia!

Don't forget God during the holidays . . .

Of course I can't claim to have influenced the Holy Father in what he would say in his second Angelus address on Sunday, but it seems as if we are thinking along the same lines on this.

From the news agency, Rome Reports.

19th July, 2010. In his second Angelus address from Castel Gandolfo, Pope Benedict addressed pilgrims on the importance of prayer during their vacations.

Benedict XVI referred to the summer as a time when most are on holiday, including himself. He has suspended his audiences for a period.

He said summer holiday is a “favourable moment” to put first what is most important in life: listening to the Word of God.

“In today’s Gospel we are reminded of the need to rest from our daily labours, so that we may give time to the one thing that is truly necessary in our lives – listening to the word of God in attentive stillness.” Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict explained that everything will pass but the Word of God is eternal and gives meaning to our daily activities.

He said humans must work in domestic and professional activities, but need God because without love activities lose their value and give no joy.

As I said in our newsletter this week and repeated after each Sunday Mass; when you're making your preparations for your summer holidays and writing your check list;

tickets, foreign currency, sunscreen,

hotel reservations, cancel milk and papers,

arrange for someone to look after the dog/cat/hamster, etc. etc. . . .

Don't forget the most important thing -

CHECK THE LOCATION OF THE NEAREST CATHOLIC CHURCH AND

THE TIMES OF SUNDAY MASSES!

I wish you all a very happy, restful and refreshing summer break and I look forward to seeing you all as usual on the Sundays when you're not actually out of the parish.

Regina Coeli . . .

From Easter until the resumption of Ordinary Time we pray the Regina Coeli in place of the Angelus. Like the Angelus, this prayer is said in the morning, at midday and in the evening.

Here is a simple, prayerful rendition of this beautiful prayer.

Queen of Heaven, Rejoice!

Queen of heaven, rejoice! Alleluia!

For the Son thou was privileged to bear, Alleluia!

Is risen as He said. Alleluia!

Pray for us to God. Alleluia!

Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia!

For the Lord is truly risen. Alleluia.

Let us pray:

O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, grant, we beseech thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, his Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life: Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen

Ordinary Time

We return to Ordinary Time today with Week 6 having celebrated the Feast of Pentecost on Sunday.

During the Easter Season we pray the Regina Caeli and now we return to praying the Angelus at 6am, midday and 6pm.

The angel of the Lord appeared unto Mary,

And she conceived by the Holy Spirit;

Hail, Mary ...

Holy Mary ...

Behold the handmaid of the Lord

Be it done unto me according to your word;

Hail, Mary ...

Holy Mary ...

And the Word was made flesh

And dwelt among us;

Hail, Mary ...

Holy Mary

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God

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

Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, your Son was made know by the message of an Angel, may, by his passion and cross, be brought to the glory of his resurrection, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

We can pray this beautiful prayer wherever we are, we don't need to be in church. We sanctify our day by this invocation to Our Lady.