The Angelus

V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

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, prayer for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
R. Be it done to 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, prayer for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

V. And the Word was made flesh,
R. 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, prayer for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. Pour forth, we beseech Thee, Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that, as we have known the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, by the message of an angel, so by His Passion and Cross we may be brought to the glory of the Resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

The simplicity of this painting...the images, stopping their toiling, pausing during their work to pray, to remember Jesus...to honor Mary...to give repose to their souls for just a few moments. They didn't have all the time saving technology that makes our lives so much more simple than theirs...... or does it? They had to work so hard for their living, for their bread. We complain about driving in an air conditioned car to the store or Quick Mart to pick up a loaf of already sliced bread and a gallon of milk already in a bottle. We didn't have to milk the cow!

What do these folks know that we don't? What do they have that we more often than not, fail to cherish, (if we ever did have it?) Life was indeed harder, people died earlier, but it seems many had much more than we who have so much now. We have so much yet we can't see the need in our souls to pause for a moment or even for a day out of the week (Sunday is to be kept Holy...many ignore that commandment and keep on truckin') Unless we're struck down with a flu bug or some sickness that MAKES us pause not many do. I mean, well...because, heck... that might slow us down! I might not get to the red light before the next guy....to fidget about how long the light is, and how I have to sit at that dang light "forever!" For...ever?

You know what will wear you down and hurt you more than a flu bug or a disease? Your own tongue. When it grumbles and complains, it kills and destroys...and you're left not being Christ to others. Pray for me, will y'all? I need help in controlling my tongue. Anyone else?

PAX,
susie