Luke was the original painter of this icon of the beautiful Virgin Mary. Housed in the Church of Saint Alphonse of Liguori in Rome, legend holds that St. Icon of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Perpetual Help ( Wikipedia) Initially adapted from Scripture in Latin, we recognize the many verses from Luke that form the Hail Mary in English today. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Luke 1:41b-43 Then she sets out in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who, in her old age, is six months pregnant with a son “for nothing will be impossible for God” ( Luke 1:37).Īs soon as Mary enters the house and greets Elizabeth, the infant leaps in her womb.Īnd 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. Mary gives her full consent to God’s plan of salvation, and the Angel departs from her.

We address Mary in the same way at the beginning of our prayer. Upon coming to her, the Angel greets Mary, saying, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you” ( Luke 1:28). We read that God sends the Angel Gabriel to proclaim to the Virgin Mary that she is to bear the Son of God.

The Hail Mary is rooted in Scripture - the initial lines are taken directly from the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke. They recognize her powerful witness as a faithful disciple of Christ and seek her aid as a compassionate spiritual mother.Īlong with the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father), the Hail Mary is one of the first prayers that Catholics learn in their journeys of faith. The Hail Mary is traditionally prayed by Catholics, but many people (both Christian and non-Christian) feel drawn to Mary. It’s also the heart of the Rosary, in which we pray with Mary while contemplating the sacred mysteries, or significant moments, of Jesus’ life, death, and Resurrection.

In the second half of the prayer, we ask Mary to intercede for us and bring us closer to her Son, Jesus. The Hail Mary is a Scripture-based prayer in which we meditate on words from the Gospel of Luke. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Luke 1:30-33 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

How to Pray the Hail Mary: Step by Step.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee īlessed are thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Hail mary prayer in latin audio