Hail Mary

The Hail Mary is a rich prayer of Catholics. It starts with scripture, the words first of the angel Gabriel and then Elizabeth. Then we proclaim with the Council of Ephesus that Mary is the Mother of God. We end with proclaiming Mary living in heaven interceding for us with Jesus now and at the hour of our death.

Scripture

Luke 1:39-45

During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed  that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."

Prayer

Lord, thank you for the gift of Mary.  She shins out in the Bible as a person deeply in love with you.  She is open to your will.  She is faithful to her commitments.  She is also a wonderful gift to us, a mother.  When I say the Hail Mary, help me to awaken her beauty in my heart. Help me to strive to be more like her. Amen.