Today is Lady Day, the Feast of the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel came to Mary with the news that she would conceive the Son of God.  Today we pray for all who live with the unexpected and those who are fearful for the future, and we rejoice that God’s promises are true and that he will never leave us comfortless!

Every day before Morning and Evening Prayer Jon and I pray the Angelus, a prayer which celebrates this event.  Below you will find the text so you can pray it now, and then two YouTube links, one a lovely piece of Three Minute Theology from The Diocese of Nashville, explaining the Angelus, and then The Sixteen singing the beautiful Basque carol The Angel Gabriel. 

V/ The Angel of the Lord brought tidings to Mary

R/ And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.

Blessèd are you among women,

and blessèd is the fruit of your 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;

Let it be to me according to your word.’

Hail Mary . . .

The Word was made flesh

And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

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

Let us pray.

We beseech you, O Lord,

to pour your grace into our hearts;

that as we have known the incarnation

of your 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 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEnba33cit4