Praying the Angelus: Find Joy, Peace, and Purpose in Everyday Life

by Jared Dees

The Angelus is a centuries-old Catholic devotion that recalls the annunciation of Christ’s birth by the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary. In Praying the Angelus , popular author and speaker Jared Dees reinvigorates the devotion, shares intimately from his own experience of it, shows us how to get started, and enriches the practice with original meditations to reflect on the words of both the Angelus and the Regina Caeli.

Jared Dees was twenty-seven and in his fourth year of teaching religion in a Catholic school when he first experienced the Angelus. The creator of The Religion Teacher website allows the devotion to anchor his prayer life and challenge him to daily conversion of heart and will.

Dees introduces the Angelus devotion and explores its rich history and significance for the Church. As spiritual companion and guide, he offers meditations on the words and images of both the Angelus and the Regina Caeli, which is prayed during the Easter season. We find lessons about the power of repetitive prayer, the humility of being a disciple, the importance of admitting time belongs to God, the wisdom of taking time with discernment, and the joy of resting in the Lord’s presence. He shares personal stories of the life-change power of the Angelus and guides both newcomers and those already familiar with the prayer to contemplate the mysteries of salvation that lie at the heart of the devotion—the Annunciation, Incarnation, and Resurrection.

Named for the opening words of the devotion's first prayer in Latin, "The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary," the Angelus is typically prayed at 6:00 a.m., noon, and 6:00 p.m. each day. Likewise the Regina Caeli is named for the opening lines of its prayer, "Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia." 

Praying the Angelus is supported by Dees’s website, TheAngelusPrayer.com, where people can gather online to participate in and share this devotion with others. 

Genres: Catholic

160 pages, Paperback

Published March 3, 2017

About the author

Jared Dees is the creator of the popular website The Religion Teacher , which provides practical resources and effective teaching strategies to religious educators. A respected graduate of the Alliance for Catholic Education program at the University of Notre Dame, Dees earned master’s degrees in education and theology, both from Notre Dame. He has volunteered and worked in a wide variety of Catholic ministries, including Catholic schools, parish religious education, youth ministry, campus ministry, RCIA, and adult faith formation. Dees is the content marketing manager at Ave Maria Press and the author of and To Heal, Proclaim, and Teach. His articles have appeared in Momentum, CATECHIST, Catechetical Leader, and on numerous websites. Dees lives near South Bend, Indiana, with his wife and children.

Reviews

[Anna Keating · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is good. The prayer is transformative. I love it. Thanks for making it part of my days, Jared Dees.

This piece also convinced me to take it up: https://www.americamagazine.org/conte...

[Patrice Fagnant-macarthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

My knowledge of the Angelus prayer was minimal at best before reading Praying the Angelus by Jared Dees (Ave Maria Press, 2017). I doubt that I am alone in that regard. Dees, a high school theology teacher, describes his own confusion when first listening to the Angelus in Latin when in Rome and then learning about the prayer from a priest in his parish who was guest teaching in his religious education program.

This was the start of a transformative personal journey for the author in which he would begin incorporating the prayer, offered at six a.m., noon, and six p.m. each day, into his daily routine. The fruits of that experience led him to want to share this beautiful devotion with others.

The Angelus is a prayer in honor of Our Blessed Mother and the moment of the Incarnation. According to Dees, it “originated in the Middle Ages as a devotional practice for laypeople living near the great monasteries of Europe to help them follow the prayer example of those who lived monastic lives.” During Easter, the Regina Caeli is prayed in place of the Angelus “as a prayer of praise to God for the Resurrection.”

Dees shares the history of both of these prayers as well as provides a line by line explanation and reflection for each line of the prayers.

Whether or not one ultimately chooses to incorporate the Angelus into one’s daily devotions, Dees’ discussion of the value of repetitive prayer is worth reading and pondering. Being committed to a structured daily prayer practice which requires you to interrupt your day with prayer at regularly scheduled intervals has the power to transform your life. He also makes some important observations about the value of devotions in passing the Catholic faith down to our children.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to learn & pray the Angelus during Lent this year. This book was a quick read that helped me understand the context & meaning of the prayer as well as to meditate more deeply with each part of the prayer.

[Michelle Ardillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://michelleardillo.com/2025/04/19...

[Suzanne Garrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative

Dees breaks down the history of The Angelus/Regina Coeli and the significance of each line of both prayers in a way that is easy to read and understand. Which is probably why it does not have The Imperatur or other Catholic seal of approval. Which is unfortunate, because I think he makes some brilliant connections.

[Fr. Edward Looney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jared Dees refreshes a common Marian devotion called the Angelus. With his historical presentation of the devotion, and meditations on each of the phrases, you'll never pray this prayer the same way again.

[Mary Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clear. I learned about a prayer tradition I didn't even know existed, and I've started following this as well (as yes, will switch to the Queen of Heaven prayer for the Easter system).

[Michael Kuzmicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important daily prayers explained

A Great book for understanding the meditations behind the Angelus and the regina coeli prayers and the importance of praying them every day.

[Steven A. McLaughlin, Sr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Angelus

This book was very helpful in helping me understand The Angelus and has inspired me too pray it three times a day with total commitment.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book explaining a beautiful prayer. It is life transforming. I love the specific meditations. I highly recommend the book.

[Yasmin Qader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good read. I cleared out a lot of noise and meditated. I found my religious spiritual self ...

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prior to reading this book I had only ever prayed the Angelus a few times, those few times it was instigated and lead by a spiritual director while we walked and after we had prayed the rosary together. I was somewhat familiar with the tradition of the Angelus as a prayer and in art. But it had not been a significant part of my personal devotion. This book changed that. I am thankful for another review of this book I came across and that sparked my interest in the title. I read this book over a year before writing this review. The reason for the delay was that it is easy to read a book, or go to a retreat, event or conference and come back spiritually fired up and with new commitments. But also, just as easy for those habits to fall by the wayside. I wanted to see if this would be a new habit that would last and stick, or not before reviewing the book.

Now I will be completely honest I do not typically pray this prayer three times a day. I always pray it at noon, often pray it in the morning and occasionally pray it at 3 in the afternoon. I have email reminders for 5:55am and 11:55am so that I am prompted to pray it. It has truly been a blessing to add this devotion to my spiritual practice, and to have it last 18 months now. And therefore, I am writing the review. Now back to the book.

The Angelus as a devotion has been around and recognized for centuries. In this book Dees introduces readers to the history and significance of this prayer in church history and for the church today. Dees has written a series of meditations and reflections on both the Angelus and the Regina Caeli (Said in place of the Angelus during the Easter season from Easter to Pentecost.). His explorations are through words and images (artwork). The sections in this volume are:

Preface
The Angelus
The Regina Caeli
An Invitation
Origins of the Angelus and the Regina Caeli
How to Pray the Angelus
What to Expect
Why Pray the Angelus Today?
Angelus Meditations
The Angel of the Lord Declared unto Mary
And She Conceived of the Holy Spirit
Behold the Handmaid of the Lord
Be It Done unto Me According to Thy Word
And the Word Was Made Flesh
And Dwelt Among Us
Pray for Us, O Holy Mother of God
That We May Be Made Worthy of the Promises of Christ
Pour Forth, We Beseech Thee O Lord, Thy Grace into Our Hearts
That We to Whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son,
Was Made Known by the Message of an Angel
May by His Passion and Cross Be Brought to the Glory of His Resurrection
Through the Same Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Regina Caeli Meditations
Queen of Heaven, Rejoice, Alleluia
For He, Whom You Did Merit to Bear, Alleluia
Has Risen, as He Said, Alleluia
Pray for Us to God, Alleluia
Rejoice and Be Glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia
For the Lord Has Truly Risen, Alleluia
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
Notes

This book serves as a guide to the Angelus for both those familiar with it and newcomers to the devotion. This is a wonderful read and will likely inspire you and change your prayer life. I give this book my highest recommendation for not only is it an easily accessible read, it is just as easy to implement and is very practical.

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2017 Catholic Reading Plan!