Hail Mary what is it? What does it mean? Where did it come from? We do we call long shots like in football a Hail Mary? Is praying the Hail Mary Wrong?

Hail Mary What Is It?

The Hail Mary is a title given to a young woman named Mary by the Angel Gabriel. Mary Lived in Nazareth. She was a virgin betrothed to Joseph of the house of David. The Term Hail mean to greet with enthusiastic approval or to acclaim. Hail is a term used in ancient day when greeting Kings and Queens.

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,

to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.

And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you. (Luke 1, 26:28)

The Hail Mary is also a Catholic Prayer that first appeared in 1495 in Girolamo Savonarola's Esposizione sopra l'Ave Maria. The "Hail Mary" prayer in Savonarola's exposition reads: "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

The first part of the Hail Mary is mostly stated facts.

Hail Mary Full of Grace the Lord is with The, blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus

1. Hail Mary (Titile given by Gabriel).

2. Full of Grace the Lord is with thee (God is grace and Jesus is residing in her).

3. Blessed art thou amongst women (She was chosen among all women of all time past, present, and future).

4. Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

No prayer is yet said no petition made. Just the facts of the matter. However, in the second part there is a petition.

The petition was commonly added around the time of the Council of Trent. The Dutch Jesuit Petrus Canisius is credited with adding in 1555 in his Catechism the sentence

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

What Does It Mean?

Many people Catholics and Non-Catholics alike are confused on the core meaning of the prayer. The best and simplest way to describe the prayer and its purpose is to look at it from a child point of view. Jesus did say “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18, 3)

When a Child is in trouble, due to the child's own accord, whom do they seek first? Does a child in trouble seek their Mother or Father first? In most cases the child will seek his or her Mother for assistance. This is a natural human instinct. The two parent system, mother and father, provide a system of support. The mother is usually more nurturing in nature. The father is more by the book. However, the mother can usually petition the father to pass down a less sentence to the child for discipline.

Our own court systems are set up this way. The lawyer of the defendant will plead the case of the accused. This is for either to prove innocence's or lessen the sentence. The defendant needs representation to mediate to the judge and jury.

In a similar way God through the Hail Mary prayer has installed a system of mediation. In the example of the child. The real reason the child goes to the mother is for fear of the father. Not so much fear of the punishment but fear of failing his father through whatever action has led to this situation. The mother has the ability to petition the father on behalf of the child. She brings the Childs case to the father not to avoid judgment but to lessen the sentence.

Why Do we call Long Shots Hail Mary's?

Football is the best example of a Hail Mary. The team is loosing and the goal does not seem possible. The Hail Mary play is one last chance as time runs out to try to pull a win. It is ironic that the last line in the Hail Mary is, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Just like in the football game there is a last ditch effort to score and reach the goal. As life comes to and end and people are uncertain of the end goal based on their play. The Hail Mary maybe a good final play. Really what does one have to lose?

Is Praying the Hail Mary Wrong?

Is praying the Hail Mary wrong is like asking if asking for help is wrong. The real question one must ask is, if a person was in trouble would their mother be one of the first people to ask for assistance? If a regular person would as his or her ordinary mother for help? Why would a person find fault in asking Jesus's Mother for help. For every good son is close to his mother and every good mother is close to her son. And if a natural mother will assist her son, what would a supernatural mother do to help?

At no time during the prayer do we ask for salvation. We are simply asking her to pray for us. Have we ever asked regular friends and family members to pray for us? Why would we not ask Jesus's mother to pray for us?

Conclusion

There is much more meaning and understanding to be had when it comes to the Hail Mary. However, a person can only truly find if they seek. I hope in a simple child like way I have brought awareness to the Hail Mary. Not only the prayer but the meaning. Just like the Hail Mary play the Hail Mary prayer is a great option with the last seconds ticking away. But wouldn't it make more sense to practice the prayer like we practice the play?