Hail Mary Prayer
The Hail Mary is one of the most familiar prayers in the Catholic Church and is repeated throughout each decade of the Rosary. Its opening words come from the Gospel of Luke, where the Angel Gabriel greets Mary and Elizabeth blesses her as the mother of Jesus Christ.
In the Hail Mary, Catholics praise God for the grace given to the Blessed Virgin Mary and ask her to pray for them now and at the hour of death. This page includes the complete prayer in English and Latin, its biblical origin, its line-by-line meaning, and guidance for praying it with greater attention and devotion.
The Hail Mary – Full Text
The Hail Mary is traditionally prayed with these words:
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.
The prayer honors the grace God gave to the Blessed Virgin Mary, praises Jesus Christ as the blessed fruit of her womb, and asks Mary to pray for us throughout our lives and at the hour of death.
Hail Mary in Latin
The traditional Latin form of the Hail Mary is known as the Ave Maria:
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.
The words Ave Maria mean “Hail Mary.” The Latin prayer expresses the same praise of Mary, confession of faith in Jesus Christ, and request for Mary’s intercession as the familiar English version.
The Two Parts of the Hail Mary
The Hail Mary has two main parts. The first is drawn from the Gospel of Luke. The words “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee” come from the Angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary at the Annunciation. The words “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” come from Elizabeth’s greeting when Mary visited her.
The second part is the Church’s prayer of petition: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.” Catholics acknowledge their need for God’s mercy and ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for them both in the present moment and at the end of earthly life. The entire prayer leads the faithful from God’s grace in Mary to Jesus Christ, the blessed fruit of her womb.
Biblical Origin of the Hail Mary
The Hail Mary grew from words first spoken in the Gospel of Luke. Its opening praises come from the Angel Gabriel at the Annunciation and from Elizabeth at the Visitation. The Church later joined these biblical greetings to a prayer asking the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for sinners.
The Angel Gabriel’s Greeting
The prayer begins with Gabriel’s words to Mary at the Annunciation:
“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women” (Luke 1:28, Douay-Rheims).
Gabriel’s greeting reveals that Mary has received a singular grace from God and that the Lord is with her in a unique way. These words prepare for the announcement that she will conceive Jesus through the power of the Holy Ghost. When Catholics repeat them, they echo the message God sent through His angel.
Elizabeth’s Blessing
The next words come from Elizabeth’s greeting when Mary visits her:
“Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Luke 1:42, Douay-Rheims).
Filled with the Holy Ghost, Elizabeth recognizes both the blessedness of Mary and the divine gift she carries. The name Jesus was later added to the prayer so that the One called “the fruit of thy womb” would be named directly. Mary is blessed because she believed God’s word and because she bears the Savior.
“Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for Us Sinners”
This part is not a direct quotation from one verse, but it expresses truths found throughout Scripture. Elizabeth calls Mary “the mother of my Lord” in Luke 1:43. Because Jesus is truly God the Son, the Church rightly calls Mary the Mother of God. This title does not mean that Mary existed before God; it affirms the truth about the Person she bore.
The words “pray for us sinners” ask Mary for her intercession. Catholics turn to her as the mother of Jesus and ask her to bring their needs before her Son, both in the present moment and at the hour of death.
How the Prayer Developed in the Church
For centuries, Christians prayed the biblical greetings of Gabriel and Elizabeth as a short devotion to Mary. The names Mary and Jesus became part of the prayer as its form developed. The title “Mother of God” expressed the faith affirmed at the Council of Ephesus in A.D. 431: the child born of Mary is one divine Person, Jesus Christ, truly God and truly man.
During the Middle Ages, the petition asking Mary to “pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death” gradually became joined to the scriptural words. By the time of the Council of Trent in the sixteenth century, the familiar form of the Hail Mary was widely used. It later became central to the Rosary, the Angelus, and the daily prayer life of Catholics throughout the world.
Meaning of the Hail Mary – Line by Line
The Hail Mary moves from praise to petition. It begins by repeating the words spoken to Mary in Scripture, places the name of Jesus at its center, and ends by asking Mary to pray for sinners throughout life and at the hour of death. Considering each line separately can help the faithful pray these familiar words with greater attention and love.
“Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord Is with Thee”
The word “hail” is a greeting of honor and joy. In the Gospel, the Angel Gabriel does not approach Mary with ordinary words. He greets her as “full of grace,” revealing that God has blessed her and prepared her for the unique mission of becoming the mother of His Son.
All of Mary’s grace comes from God. She is not praised apart from Him, but because of what He has accomplished in her. “The Lord is with thee” points to God’s special presence in Mary’s life. He calls her, strengthens her, and dwells within her as the Word becomes flesh in her womb. When Catholics repeat this greeting, they praise God’s grace and remember Mary’s faithful response to His will.
“Blessed Art Thou Amongst Women”
These words come from Elizabeth, who is filled with the Holy Ghost when Mary enters her home. Mary is blessed among women because God chose her for a place unlike any other in salvation history. She believed His word and freely accepted the mission He placed before her.
Mary’s blessedness is therefore inseparable from her faith and obedience. She receives God’s gift with humility and gives herself completely to His plan. Praying this line invites the faithful not only to honor Mary, but also to imitate her willingness to trust God even when His will is difficult or not fully understood.
“Blessed Is the Fruit of Thy Womb, Jesus”
Jesus is the center of the Hail Mary. Everything said about Mary leads to Him. He is the blessed fruit of her womb, the eternal Son of God who truly took human flesh and was born of the Virgin Mary.
Speaking the name of Jesus turns the heart toward the Savior. Mary is blessed because she carries Him, gives birth to Him, loves Him, and follows Him faithfully. This line reminds the faithful that authentic devotion to Mary never ends with Mary. She always brings the soul to her Son and teaches believers to keep Jesus at the center of their lives.
“Holy Mary, Mother of God”
Mary is called holy because God filled her life with grace and because she remained faithful to Him. Her holiness is His gift, received and lived through her complete surrender to His will.
The title “Mother of God” expresses the truth about Jesus Christ. Mary did not give birth merely to His human nature; she gave birth to the Person of Jesus, who is truly God and truly man. Calling Mary the Mother of God therefore protects the Christian belief that the child born of her is God the Son made flesh. The title honors Mary, but its deepest purpose is to proclaim who Jesus is.
“Pray for Us Sinners”
After praising God’s work in Mary and naming Jesus, the prayer turns to petition. We acknowledge that we are sinners who need mercy, grace, and help. We do not approach God as though we are already perfect, but with humility and confidence in His forgiveness.
The word “us” also reminds us that the Hail Mary is not only a prayer for ourselves. We ask Mary to intercede for all sinners: our families, the Church, those who have fallen away, and those most in need of God’s mercy. Mary’s intercession does not replace the saving work of Jesus. She prays for us and leads us to depend more completely upon her Son.
“Now and at the Hour of Our Death”
The word “now” places every present need before God. Whatever joy, sorrow, temptation, illness, decision, or burden we are carrying, we ask Mary to pray for us in this moment. The prayer can therefore accompany every part of daily life.
We also ask for her prayers “at the hour of our death,” when earthly life reaches its final moment. Catholics pray for the grace to remain faithful, receive God’s mercy, and die united with Jesus Christ. Each Hail Mary entrusts both the present and the end of life to God, asking the Blessed Virgin Mary to remain near and pray that we may be brought safely to her Son.
The Hail Mary and the Rosary
The Hail Mary is the prayer repeated throughout the decades of the Rosary. While the words honor the Blessed Virgin Mary and ask for her intercession, the prayer places the name of Jesus at its center. Its steady repetition helps the faithful remain in prayer while meditating upon the mysteries of Christ’s life, death, and glory.
Where the Hail Mary Is Prayed
Near the beginning of the Rosary, three Hail Marys are prayed after the first Our Father. They are commonly offered for an increase in faith, hope, and charity. The Glory Be follows these introductory prayers.
The Hail Mary is then prayed ten times in each decade. After a mystery is announced, the Our Father is prayed on the large bead, followed by ten Hail Marys on the smaller beads. The decade ordinarily concludes with the Glory Be and, where customary, the Fatima Prayer.
This pattern allows the words of the Hail Mary to accompany each mystery. As the prayer is repeated, the mind and heart are invited to remain with Jesus and Mary in the event being contemplated.
How Many Hail Marys Are in the Rosary?
A standard five-decade Rosary contains 53 Hail Marys. Three are prayed during the opening prayers, and fifty are prayed within the five decades—ten in each decade.
The traditional fifteen-decade Rosary contains 150 Hail Marys within its decades, corresponding to the 150 Psalms. When the three introductory Hail Marys are included, the full prayer contains 153 Hail Marys.
When all twenty mysteries of the modern Rosary are prayed together, there are 200 Hail Marys within the decades and 203 when the three introductory Hail Marys are included.
Meditating on Christ While Praying the Hail Mary
The Hail Marys of the Rosary are not meant to draw attention away from the mystery being prayed. Their familiar rhythm gives the lips a prayer to speak while the mind reflects upon an event in the life of Jesus Christ.
During the Joyful Mysteries, the faithful contemplate His Incarnation and childhood. The Luminous Mysteries turn the heart toward His public ministry. The Sorrowful Mysteries recall His Passion and death, while the Glorious Mysteries proclaim His Resurrection, Ascension, and heavenly glory.
The name of Jesus stands at the center of every Hail Mary: “blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.” The prayer therefore keeps Christ before the soul while Mary accompanies the meditation. When attention wanders, the words of the prayer provide a gentle way to return to the mystery and continue praying.
How to Pray the Hail Mary from the Heart
The Hail Mary can be prayed in only a few moments, yet its familiar words can easily be spoken without attention. Praying from the heart does not require strong emotions or perfect concentration. It means turning sincerely toward God, honoring His work in Mary, speaking the name of Jesus with faith, and asking for Mary’s prayers with humility.
Pray Slowly and with Attention
Begin by slowing down enough to hear the words you are saying. There is no need to rush through the prayer. A brief pause after each phrase can help the mind receive its meaning:
Hail Mary, full of grace.
Remember the grace God gave to Mary.
The Lord is with thee.
Consider God’s presence and faithfulness.
Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Speak the name of Jesus with love and reverence.
Pray for us sinners.
Acknowledge your need for mercy and help.
Praying slowly does not mean stretching every word unnaturally. It simply means allowing the prayer to become a true act of faith rather than a string of hurried sentences.
Return Gently When Distracted
Distractions are common during prayer. Thoughts about work, family, worries, or unfinished responsibilities may arise even when the desire to pray is sincere. Becoming frustrated usually creates another distraction.
When the mind wanders, gently return to the words of the Hail Mary. The name of Jesus can become the point of return. Begin again with the phrase you were praying, or continue calmly without judging yourself.
Each return is itself an act of prayer. It shows the desire to place the mind and heart before God again. Faithful prayer is not measured by never becoming distracted, but by continuing to turn back to God.
Bring Personal Intentions to Mary
The words “pray for us sinners” provide a natural place to remember personal intentions. A Hail Mary may be offered for a family member, someone who is ill, a difficult decision, the conversion of a loved one, the souls in Purgatory, or anyone in need of God’s mercy.
The intention does not need to be repeated throughout the entire prayer. It can be placed quietly before God at the beginning, trusting Mary to join her prayers to yours.
Personal intentions should not remove Jesus from the center of the prayer. Mary’s intercession leads the faithful toward her Son and helps them entrust every need to His wisdom and mercy.
Praying the Hail Mary During Daily Life
The Hail Mary may be prayed almost anywhere: upon waking, before leaving home, while traveling, during a break, before an important conversation, or at the end of the day. Its short form makes it especially helpful when there is not enough time for a longer period of prayer.
It can also be prayed during moments of fear, temptation, grief, illness, or uncertainty. The words “now and at the hour of our death” place both the present moment and the end of life into God’s hands.
Praying one Hail Mary with attention can become a simple way to pause, remember Jesus, seek Mary’s intercession, and return the heart to God during the ordinary events of the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Hail Mary is one of the best-known Catholic prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Its opening words are drawn from the Angel Gabriel’s greeting at the Annunciation and Elizabeth’s blessing at the Visitation in the Gospel of Luke. The second part asks Mary to pray for sinners now and at the hour of death. Also called the Ave Maria or the Angelic Salutation, the Hail Mary is repeated throughout the Rosary.
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.
Yes — most of it. The opening lines come straight from the Gospel of Luke: the angel Gabriel's greeting (Luke 1:28) and Elizabeth's words at the Visitation (Luke 1:42). The closing petition, "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners…," was added later by the Church as it prayed.
The Hail Mary praises God for choosing Mary and asks her to pray for us. The opening greets her as "full of grace," the middle blesses her and names Jesus as "the fruit of thy womb," and the closing asks the Mother of God to intercede for sinners now and at the hour of death. Though addressed to Mary, the prayer's heart is Christ.
Pray the Hail Mary slowly and with attention, letting each phrase settle in the heart. Begin with the angel's greeting, bless Mary and name Jesus, then ask her to pray for you. In the Rosary, ten Hail Marys are prayed on each decade's beads while meditating on a mystery of Christ's life.
A standard five-decade Rosary contains 53 Hail Marys: ten in each of the five decades, plus three during the introductory prayers. The traditional fifteen-decade Rosary contains 150 Hail Marys within its decades, corresponding to the 150 Psalms, or 153 when the three introductory Hail Marys are included.
Repeating the Hail Mary is not empty repetition but a rhythm that quiets the mind and frees the heart to meditate on the mysteries of Christ. Like a steady drumbeat beneath a melody, the repeated words let the soul rest in prayer while contemplating the life of Jesus through Mary's eyes.
No. Catholics worship God alone — that adoration is called latria. The honor given to Mary is veneration (dulia), the respect due to a holy person, never the worship due to God. The Hail Mary praises God for His work in Mary, asks her to pray for us, and always points to Jesus, "the fruit of thy womb" (Lk 1:42). Far from taking glory from God, the prayer directs it to Him through the Mother He chose.
It is intercession—the communion of saints. Asking Mary to pray is like asking a holy friend to pray; she always points to Jesus (John 2:5).
Since Jesus is true God and true man, Mary is rightly called Mother of God; this was affirmed at the Council of Ephesus (AD 431).
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Charles Rogers is a resident of South Carolina and a retired computer programmer by trade. Raised in various Christian denominations, he came to faith in Jesus Christ early in life. In 2012, he began experiencing authentic spiritual encounters with the Blessed Virgin Mary, which led him on a seven-year journey at her hands, that included alcohol addiction, a widow maker heart attack and death and conversion to the Catholic Faith. He is the exclusive author and owner of Two Percent Survival, a website dedicated to and created in honor of the Holy Mother. Feel free to email Charles at twopercentsurvival@gmail.com.
May Our Lady of the Rosary lead you deeper into the grace you have been given. Pray always, and trust the mercy of God while the door remains open.
— Two Percent Survival