The Hail Mary

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 death.

Amen.




"Beginning with Mary's unique cooperation with the
working of the Holy Spirit, the Churches developed their
prayer to the holy Mother of God, centering it on the
Person of Christ manifested in His mysteries. In
countless hymns and antiphons expressing this prayer,
two movements usually alternate with one another: the
first "magnifies" the Lord for the "great things" He did for
His lowly servant and through her for all human beings.
The second entrusts the supplications and praises of the
children of God to the Mother of Jesus, because she now
knows the humanity which, in her, the Son of God
espoused."

- from the Catechism of the Catholic Church; 2675.