The Power of the Angelus

The Power of the Angelus
By Heather King

I’m a writer, personal essayist and storyteller with several books.

A couple of years ago I was approached by a woman who proposed paying me to write her memoir. We met, we came to an agreement, we worked for several months together. We had many phone conversations, which I taped and transcribed. I spent many weeks editing, shaping, fleshing out, piecing together a narrative.

I was glad of the work. I took it very seriously, as I do all my work. But in the back of my mind, after the third month or so, was a nagging, increasingly louder voice, that kept whispering, “When am I going to get back to my work? My essays, my reflections, my next book. My voice, my interpretation of the world, my narrative.”

That went on for a couple of months. I was still working away, but the work had become just a bit of a grind. “When am I going to get back to my work?” that voice kept nagging.

I often walk to a nearby Blessed Sacrament chapel near the end of my working day. I often pray the Angelus.

“Let it be done unto me according to Thy word.” “And the Word was made flesh.” “Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.”

One day, in prayer, the thought came to me: “This is my work.”

I was being paid well. I admired the thrust of my client’s vocation. I realized that my job was to give her book everything I’d give a book of my own: all the heart, all the humor, everything I knew and had experienced of the Christ of the Gospels.

I had heard the Angelus bell in my heart, ringing at Vespers. Always, Mary is there to help steer us back to her beloved Son. Always, in prayer, we learn one more time: “For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

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

Hail Mary, etc…

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to Your Word.

Hail Mary, etc…

V. And the Word was made flesh,
R. And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary, etc…

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 You, O Lord,
Your Grace into our hearts;
that as we have known the incarnation of Christ,
your Son by the message of an angel,
so by His passion and cross
we may be brought to the glory of His Resurrection.
Through the same Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

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