“Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with perfect confidence.” – St. Francis de Sales

If you’re looking for a way to introduce prayer into your family routine, the Regina Caeli (“Queen of Heaven”) is for you. The prayer rejoices with Our Lady in the resurrection of Christ.

It a gorgeous, old prayer rooted in scripture and rich in history. According to legend, Pope Saint Gregory the Great was leading a procession with an icon of the Blessed Virgin when he had a vision of angels singing the Regina Caeli. In the 18th century, Pope Benedict XIV asked the faithful to pray the Regina Caeli in place of the Angelus (another wonderful prayer for families) during Eastertide (Easter day through Pentecost).

While you can certainly pray it any time of the year, Eastertide would be a great time to begin. How about in May, the month of Mary? It’s pretty short, so great for distractible kids and busy families!

Customarily, the faithful pray the Regina Caeli three times a day (upon rising, at noon, and at 6:00 p.m.), but most families pray it only once a day at a time that makes sense for the family schedule. You might pray it before everyone heads out the door in the morning or perhaps before bedtime.

Resources to Get Started

1. Printable

I’ve made a free printable for you with the Regina Caeli on one side and general prayer tips on the reverse.

2. Video

Here is a video of a Bishop Reed (Boston) leading a group in the prayer.

3. Jared’s Guide

If you’d like a more thorough explanation of the Regina Caeli, check out Praying the Angelus by Jared Dees. This is a marvelous resource, with background information and meditations for both the Angelus and the Regina Caeli.