"Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
In the middle of this day which the Lord has made, I invite you to turn to Mary the Mother of God, and to pray the Angelus with me. We are united with the Church in Rome and throughout the world.
For many centuries, the Church has had the beautiful custom of stopping for a moment in the morning, at midday and in the evening to voice a prayer in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We ourselves gladly continue this tradition of filial devotion to the Mother of God. We too wish to imitate Mary’s example of humble obedience to the word of God and we seek to enter more fully into the mystery of the Word made flesh.
In countries throughout the world, church bells ring out their joyful invitation to recite the Angelus.
As we join our voices now in humble prayer and praise, let us entrust to the Mother of the Church the needs and petitions of all her sons and daughters. May our Blessed Mother watch over our families and our loved ones; may she watch over all nations and peoples. In particular may she bring comfort to the sick and to those in sorrow. O Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us."
John Paul II Angelus in Kaduna, Nigeria (14.2.82)
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