The Angelus

This is one of my favorites!
The Angelus is a prayer rich in doctrine and devotion. It commemorates the mystery of the Incarnation by reciting certain versicles and responses with three Hail Marys and a special concluding prayer. It is recited morning, noon and evening. The church bells ring--three tolls for each of the invocations and nine for the concluding prayer.
The renowned painting by Jean-Francois Millet entitled the Angelus depicts a man and a woman standing in a field. They are farmers. He holds his cap reverently as he stands with bowed head, and she in a white cap and long blue apron over her dress clasps her hands as a prayerful look sets her face. They pause in prayer near the end of the work day.