The Angelus is a traditional prayer in praise of the incarnation of Our Lord to the Virgin Mary; The Angel of the Lord appeared unto Mary. The title, ‘Angelus’, comes from the subject of the first line in Latin.

Traditionally, the Angelus is sounded by bells at 0600, 1200 and 1800 when all who hear it are required to pray and this is the scene portrayed in Millet’s painting. In the far distance the spire of a church can be seen poking above the woods. The number of bell strikes varies. Most start off with 3 triples (for the Holy Trinity); thereafter, the number seems to be flexible but it is usually either 7 (the mystic number) or 36 (the years of Our Lord’s life).

The Angelus is said or sung at the appropriate time during the mass.