Hail Mary
| Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women and Blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of our death. Amen |
This beautiful prayer has been said by millions of Catholics
over the centuries and totally misunderstood among some Protestants. This is because when the rosary is heard by
those outside the Catholic church, the prayers are being said so fast that all that can be heard is the 'Hail Mary,'
so many think it is just a prayer about Mary until they read it or hear it said slower.
Then there comes the realization that the first two lines of the 'Hail Mary' is actually quoted directly from
the Gospel of St Luke. The first line is the salutation used by St Gaberial to Mary at the Annunciation, as she becomes
Mother of Our Saviour.
The second line is the graceful acknowledgement from Elizabeth when Mary went to visit her. This brought great joy to
Mary's heart, since Elizabeth was the first person to great her in this way. Therefore these first two lines are the
foundation of the Christian faith, since without Mary, Jesus would not have been born.
Over the centuries this prayer has brought many conversions to the Catholic faith as well as given millions
of devotees an abundance of graces and brought them closer to Our Lady. Imagine then Our Lady's joy that will fill
her heart, if we pray this devotion at a slower pace and with more love and expression.
| Holy Mary
Mother Mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen |
This
second sentence however is said to have been added by the Apostles, there is a well-known story according to locals
around the Kidron Valley in Jerusalem, where now a church is built at the foot of Mount Olivet on the tomb of the
Blessed Virgin. St Thomas arrived three days after the death of the Blessed Mother, anxious to behold the Blessed
Mother one more time, he and the other Apostles opened her tomb, only to find the Blessed Mother's robe and some
lillies in full bloom, growing in the darkness. Astounded the Apostles cried out 'Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray
for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.' Just as they had finished, the Blessed Mother appeared to them,
extending her arms in a gesture of motherly love. The news soon spread of this visitation and Christians visited
the tomb.
Today, the church, build over the Blessed Mother's tomb has Masses celebrated in various Litergies of
the Copts, Greeks, Armenians, Abyssinians. Even Jews and Muslims have ceremonies in this church. This indeed shows
that Mary has become the 'Mother of All.'
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Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and Blessed is the fruit
of your womb. Amen. |
Remember Jesus is hurt by those who do not acknowledge his
Mother,whom he gave to us at the crucifixion.
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