Hail Mary

One of the first prayers a Catholic learns is "Hail Mary".  A prayer speaking to Mary, mother of Jesus. Why are Catholics especially close to Mary, and what do we say to her through this prayer?

Mary is the mother of Jesus.  She was understood to be very young, according to modern standards, when she conceived Jesus. St Matthew recorded that Mary was found to be "with child of the Holy Spirit" when Mary was betrothed to Joseph. St Matthew described how the Angel of the Lord told Joseph what happened.

According to Matthew, the Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, telling him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, as "what is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit." He followed the Angel's words and named the child Jesus.

St Luke provides many more details about the conception of Jesus. Here, Luke first introduced the witnesses, Elizabeth and Zechariah, the priest. While they are righteous before God, Elizabeth was without a child. On this day, Angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and told him that his wife would bear a son, who should be called John. There followed the story that Zechariah was punished by being made dumb for five months as he questioned this news.

As such, in the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, Angel Gabriel went to see Mary, delivering another, even more important, message. 

The Annunciation (1857) painting by Sir Edward Burne–Jones. Original from Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Digitally enhanced by rawpixel.

The whole message delivery was detailed by St Luke in his Gospel.

"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!"

Angel Gabriel addressed Mary with this great blessing!  And he went on to tell Mary about Jesus, the child to be conceived in her womb.

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" has now become the greeting of a Catholic to speak to Mary.

When Mary learnt about her conception, she went "with haste" into the hill country, to a city of Judah, to the house of Zechariah and Elizabeth to see her cousin, knowing that Elizabeth was also pregnant and soon to be due for delivery.

Here comes another greeting from Elisabeth, expressing her joy: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!"

It seems like only Elizabeth, one who is righteous and also very blessed to bear John, was able to appreciate and describe the mysterious joy so vividly. She even shared the joy John in her womb was able to experience:

"When the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy."

The last part of the prayer is an expression of humility and entrusting oneself into the intercession of Mary's prayers:

"Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death!"

This last petition requested Mary to pray for us at two key moments of our lives: Now and at the hour of our death.

Mary has been recognised as the best intercessor.  At the wedding banquet in Cana, when Mary told Jesus they had no wine, Jesus performed the miracle of turning water into wine.