The Hail Mary Prayer
The Hail Mary is the most beloved and frequently prayed Catholic prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Composed of words from Sacred Scripture and the teaching of the Church, this prayer has been on the lips of Catholics for over a thousand years—from simple children to canonized saints.
This prayer forms the backbone of the Rosary and is prayed countless times each day around the world. Its simplicity makes it accessible to all, while its depth reveals ever deeper meanings to those who meditate upon it.
Hail Mary Prayer - Full Text
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among 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.
Ave Maria (Latin)
Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae.
Amen.
The Meaning of the Hail Mary
The Hail Mary has two parts: the first is drawn from Scripture, the second from the Church's tradition.
Part 1: The Scriptural Greeting
"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee" — These are the words of the Angel Gabriel when he appeared to Mary at the Annunciation (Luke 1:28). The word "Hail" (Latin: Ave) was a greeting of honor. "Full of grace" means Mary was completely filled with God's grace from the moment of her conception.
"Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb" — These are the words of Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, when Mary came to visit her (Luke 1:42). Even the child in Elizabeth's womb—John the Baptist—leaped for joy at Mary's presence.
"Jesus" — The name of Mary's son was added by the Church to complete the Scripture and remind us that all honor given to Mary points to her Son.
Part 2: The Church's Prayer
"Holy Mary, Mother of God" — This title was solemnly defined at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD. Mary is Theotokos—God-bearer—because Jesus is truly God and Mary is truly His mother.
"Pray for us sinners" — We acknowledge our need for intercession and ask Mary to pray for us, as we might ask any friend or saint to pray for us.
"Now and at the hour of our death" — We ask Mary to pray for us throughout our lives and especially at the critical moment of death, when we will most need her prayers.
The Biblical Foundation
Luke 1:28 — "And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women."
Luke 1:42 — "And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb."
When we pray the first half of the Hail Mary, we are literally praying Scripture—repeating the inspired words of the Angel Gabriel and St. Elizabeth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Hail Mary in the Bible?
Yes! The first half of the Hail Mary comes directly from Scripture. "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee" are the words of the Angel Gabriel (Luke 1:28). "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb" are the words of Elizabeth (Luke 1:42). The second half was added by the Church to complete the prayer.
Why do Catholics pray the Hail Mary?
Catholics pray the Hail Mary to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary and to ask for her intercession. Mary is the Mother of Jesus, and Jesus gave her to us as our spiritual mother from the cross (John 19:27). We ask her to pray for us, just as we might ask any holy person to pray for us.
How many Hail Marys are in the Rosary?
A complete Rosary contains 53 Hail Marys: 50 in the five decades (10 per mystery), plus 3 at the beginning on the small beads after the Creed. When praying all four sets of mysteries (Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, Luminous), that's 212 Hail Marys total.
When was the Hail Mary written?
The first part of the Hail Mary (the scriptural portion) has been prayed since at least the 6th century. The second part ("Holy Mary, Mother of God...") was added gradually and became standardized by the 16th century, officially approved in the Roman Breviary of Pope Pius V in 1568.