Lesson 5: The “Hail Mary”
1. What is the most important prayer that we say to Mary?
The most important prayer that we say to Mary is the “Hail Mary”
St Mechtilde was trying to make a song in honor of Mary that would really please her. Our Lady then appeared to her and said: “My daughter, I want you to know that no prayer can please me more than the Hail Mary. At the words of this prayer the Most Adorable Trinity raised me to the dignity of Mother of God.”
2. Where does the “Hail Mary” come from?
The “Hail Mary” comes more from heaven than it does from earth.
a. The first words of the Hail Mary – Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee – com from the Archangel St Gabriel. He was sent by God to say these words.
We find these words written in the Bible. (Luke 1:28) St Gabriel spoke these words to Mary when he told her that she would become the Mother of God.
b. The next words of the “Hail Mary” – “Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus” – were first spoken by St Elizabeth. The Holy Spirit had her say those words.
These words are also found in the Bible. (Luke 1:42)
c. The next words of the Hail Mary come from the Church – Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
3. What do those difficult words mean?
- GRACE is the life of Jesus within our souls.
- We received Sanctifying Grace when we were baptized.
- When we have Sanctifying Grace the Holy Trinity lives in our souls.
- Without Sanctifying Grace we cannot get to heaven.
- Mary was always full of Grace from the first moment of her existence.
The words “thou” and “thee” mean “you.”
The word “thy” means “your.”
4. When we call Mary the Mother of God, what are we saying about Jesus?
When we call Mary the Mother of God, we are saying that Jesus is God.
5. When are we asking Mary to pray for us?
We are asking Mary to pray for us now and at the time we die.
Mary prays for us so that we can get closer to Jesus and to God.
A priest was called to the home of a man who was dying. He had committed many sins in his life. Yet he refused to tell Jesus that he was sorry for them and go to confession. Finally, the priest asked him to say at least the Hail Mary. He did so. As a result, the poor man’s heart changed. He made a good confession and died a holy death. Mary’s prayers changed his heart.
6. What have some saints said about the Hail Mary?
St Jerome tells us that “the truths contained in the Hail Mary are so beautiful and so wonderful that no man or Angel could fully understand them.”
One day St Gertrude had a vision of Our Lord surrounded by shining gold coins. He told her that these coins were the “Hail Mary’s” that she had said. Every time we say a “Hail Mary” we are increasing our “treasure in heaven.”
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
At the age of 17 St Francis was studying in Paris. He worked hard, prayed very much, and tried to please God in everything. In order to help him become stronger, God permitted Satan to tempt him. The devil tried to convince St Francis that he was going to hell. He suffered very much because of this. He lost his appetite ad was unable to sleep. The saint began to have horrible thoughts. “I Am I to be without Grace? Am I never going to see Mary? AM I never going to see God?” The temptation lasted a whole month. At the end of the month, as he was returning home, he entered a church. There he went before a statue of Mary, and begged her to help him. Finishing his prayer, he told Mary, “I accept all that God wants to do.” Instantly he was freed from his temptation. Mary brought great peace and oy to his soul. For the rest of his life, his love for Mary always grew.
Through Mary’s prayers God gave him a very gentle and humble heart, like the heart of Jesus. Through Mary’s prayers he also received great wisdom and a deep understanding of the Gospel. Many people came to love God through his writings, preaching, and kindness. A group of people who hated the Catholic Church and priests even tried to kill him. He responded to their cruelty by kindness. Through his kindness and his writings many of them came into the Catholic Church.
