Ave Maria

The most beloved Marian prayer in the Catholic tradition.

The Hail Mary is the most cherished Marian prayer in the Catholic tradition. Its first half draws directly from Sacred Scripture — the Angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary (Luke 1:28) and Elizabeth’s words at the Visitation (Luke 1:42).

The Prayer

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 our death.
Amen.

About This Prayer

The Hail Mary developed over centuries, with the scriptural portion known from the early Church and the petition ‘Holy Mary, Mother of God’ added by the 15th century. It is prayed ten times in each decade of the Rosary and is central to Catholic Marian devotion.