👸 Hail Mary – Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Hail Mary is one of the most beloved prayers in the Catholic tradition, combining the words of the Angel Gabriel and Saint Elizabeth from the Gospel of Luke. This prayer honors the Blessed Virgin Mary and asks for her intercession, recognizing her unique role as the Mother of God and our spiritual mother.
Full Text of the Prayer
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;
blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Biblical Foundation
The Hail Mary prayer is deeply rooted in Scripture. The first part comes from the Annunciation, when the Angel Gabriel greeted Mary: "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Luke 1:28). The second part comes from Elizabeth's greeting to Mary: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb" (Luke 1:42).
The third part, "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death," was added by the Church to ask for Mary's intercession. This reflects the Catholic belief that Mary, as the Mother of God, has a special role in praying for us and bringing our petitions to her Son.
Meaning and Reflection
When we pray the Hail Mary, we join our voices with countless generations of Christians who have honored the Blessed Virgin Mary. This prayer teaches us to recognize Mary's unique role in salvation history and to seek her maternal intercession in our spiritual journey.
The prayer begins by acknowledging Mary's special grace and her close relationship with God. We then honor her as the mother of Jesus, recognizing that through her "yes" to God, salvation came into the world. Finally, we ask for her prayers, both in our daily struggles and at the moment of our death.
The Hail Mary is a prayer of humility and trust. It reminds us that we are sinners in need of God's mercy, and that Mary, as our spiritual mother, is always ready to intercede for us. This prayer helps us grow in devotion to Mary and, through her, to Jesus Christ.
When to Pray the Hail Mary
- • Daily Devotion: As part of your morning or evening prayers
- • The Rosary: As the central prayer of the Rosary devotion
- • Angelus: Three times daily (6 AM, 12 PM, 6 PM)
- • In Times of Need: When seeking Mary's intercession
- • Before Important Decisions: To ask for Mary's guidance
- • In Times of Temptation: To seek Mary's protection