Feast of Saint Fulbert (10 April 2018)

Our parish of Saint Dominic is fortunate to have a bell tower with three fine bells that are programmed to ring the Angelus at morning, noon, and evening.  I love this devotion; it is ancient, venerable, and very much in keeping with our holy faith.  You are probably familiar with the painting by the 19th century French artist Millet called “The Angelus”.  It shows a group of peasants standing in a wheatfield, praying the Angelus.  A church steeple in the distance suggests that they have heard the ringing of the Angelus bells and know that it is time to pray.

Let us reflect for a few moments on what the Angelus actually says.  With the first ringing of the single bell three times, we say: the Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary and she conceived by the Holy Spirit.  And then, a Hail Mary, the prayer that begins with the words by which the angel greeted the young virgin of Nazareth.  At the second ringing, we say Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word —  the words of Our Lady in response to the angelic message. And another Hail Mary.  And at the third ringing, And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us—Saint John’s simple and beautiful description of the Incarnation of our Divine Lord. And a third Hail Mary.  Then the final prayer: Pour forth, we beseech you O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross, be brought to the glory of his resurrection.  We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

You notice: through His passion and cross, may we be brought to the glory of His resurrection. Just as Our Lord had to undergo his sufferings and death, so do we undergo ours.  And beyond the moment of death there awaits us the brightness of eternity with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and with the most holy Mother of God to whom the angel first brought this message of joy and hope.  During Lent, we do our penances so as to have a share in the sufferings of Jesus, and then at its end we rejoice with him in His rising to new life.  Three times each day, the Angelus serves to remind us of this and thus to help us reflect upon these basic facts of our faith, our hope, our love. Thank you for seeking God’s truth. God bless you. Father Victor Brown, O.P.

Note:  Father Brown composed this message some years ago.  Please pray for the souls of the faithful departed, including Father Brown.