Angelus.

Today, I feel like we made a real connection with the Angelus. We have been praying it daily at noon, some days are easier than others. Our neighbours have come to know our routine and one of the children often announces, "Angelus!" when I start to gather my children into the house for prayer. 

Just before noon, the children had a disagreement with their friends, so they brought their frustration with them to prayer.

We talked about it, and why we stop to pray daily no matter what we are doing.

Big boy: That's why the Angelus is a sacrifice we make every day!

That was an aha moment for him. 

We also talked about how the Angelus is a daily reminder of Mary's "yes" to God, in spite of how afraid she might have felt as a young woman. We remember that yes and ask for the grace to say yes in our lives too, for example in the way we treat our friends around us. 

A rare chance for the children to connect their emotions with prayer, and so precious. 

"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."