Hail Mary
The most prayed prayer to the mother of Jesus, drawn from Luke's gospel.
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Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst 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.
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About this prayer
The first half of the Hail Mary is taken almost word for word from scripture — the angel Gabriel's greeting to Mary at the Annunciation (Luke 1:28) and Elizabeth's blessing at the Visitation (Luke 1:42). The second half, asking for Mary's prayers, was added by the church and finalized in the 16th century. It is the heart of the Rosary and one of the most-prayed sentences in human history.
When to pray it
As part of the Rosary. In moments of fear. For the sick. For the dying.