Hail Mary / Ave Maria

This prayer is formally known as the "Angelic Salutation" since the first part of this prayer is constructed using a passage from the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:28). While the second part is drawn from Luke 1:42 when Mary is greeted by Elizabeth. The closing was formulated by the Church, as the Council of Trent states:

"Most rightly has the Holy Church of God added to this thanksgiving, petition also and the invocation of the most holy Mother of God, thereby implying that we should piously and suppliantly have recourse to her in order that by her intercession she may reconcile God with us sinners and obtain for us the blessing we need both for this present life and for the life which has no end."

By the beginning of the twelfth century, the first half of the prayer was in common use in the liturgy of the West, and the second half was added no later than the fifteeth century.

Hail Mary (English)

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.

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.

Catholic Encyclopedia - Article in the Catholic Encyclopedia on the Hail Mary.

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