Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More at 900 West Tennessee Street, Tallahassee, FL 32304 US - "Take the Angelus Challenge!"

“Do you know why Islam is gaining momentum in the West?” was the question asked in a small group at the break during a conference talk. One of the group members was quick to answer:

"Maybe because Muslims are not afraid of praying in public. They don’t care a hoot about what other people may think about their prayer life. Wherever they may be, when the time comes to pray, they will bow down in the direction of Mecca and invoke the name of Allah. And that’s the end of it. If any passer-by doesn’t like it, well, tough! That’s why Islam is gaining momentum in the West.”

Australian Catholic Apologist, Raymond de Souza, gives us some further reasons:
“That’s one of the reasons, and a pretty good one,” I said. “Islam is growing in the West for many reasons, the following three being among the most important in my assessment: One, they do not practice contraception or abortion; two, they lead a family-centered life; and three, their family lives are centered on religion, not on sports, television, weight-loss, or the stock market.”

He went on to add:
"We have forgotten how in times gone by we used to pause at noon at 6:00 PM from whatever work we were engaged in, recollect our thoughts, place ourselves in God's presence, and utter that beautiful prayer" Will you take the "Angelus Challenge?"

We can recover this most beautiful prayer by committing ourselves to it at dawn (6 am), at noon (12 pm), and at twilight (6 pm). Here's an explanation:

Dawn — First, at 6:00 A.M., that is, around dawn, we give thanks to God as our Creator and praise the masterpiece of His Creation, Mary, the Beloved Daughter of God the Father, the First Person of the Blessed Trinity.

Mary was already in God's mind from the dawn of creation. Thus does the dawn remind us of God reflected in Mary. Then we ask Jesus to give us a faith like Mary's, whereby we shall believe in God as she believed: “Blessed is she who has believed” (Luke 1:44), as Saint Elizabeth, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said to her.

Midday — Secondly, at noon, when the sun reaches its zenith, we give thanks to God as our Redeemer, and praise the first one to be redeemed, Mary, the Admirable Mother of God the Son, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity.

Mary was the chosen one who conceived the Word of God made flesh and gave birth to Him. Midday should remind us of God living in Mary. Then we ask Jesus to give us a hope like Mary's, whereby we will trust in God as she trusted: “Be it done unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38), as she said to the Archangel who brought the great news to her.

Twilight — At 6:00 P.M., when the sun is at its twilight, we give thanks to God as our Savior, and praise the greatest one to be saved, who is already body and soul in heaven: Mary, the Faithful Spouse of God the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Blessed Trinity.

Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit, Who overshadowed her to create the human body and soul of Jesus Christ, True God and True Man, in her virginal womb. Thus should the twilight remind us of God glorified in Mary. Then we ask Jesus to give us a charity like Mary's, whereby we shall love God and our neighbor as she did, actively doing His Will: “Whatsoever He says to you, do it” (John 2:5), as she said to the servants at the marriage feast of Cana.

Pray the Angelus at dawn, at noon, and at twilight.

Adapted from St. Gabriel Communications', Raymond de Souza (The Angelus).

Go to the Angelus or download an e-book on the Angelus written by Raymond de Souza (St. Gabriel Communications).

(Back)