The Hail Mary is one of the most well-known Catholic prayers, but many people wonder where it originated from or if it can be found in the Bible. The Hail Mary prayer incorporates two passages from the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament along with other petitions. However, the specific words “Hail Mary” that open the prayer are not found verbatim in the Bible.
The Origins and Development of the Hail Mary Prayer
The Hail Mary prayer developed gradually over many centuries, eventually receiving its current standardized form around 1568. In the early Church, Christians would offer greetings, acclamations, and petitions to Mary, the mother of Jesus, especially in liturgical celebrations. By the 4th century, Christians were using a Greek term “Chaire Maria” meaning “Rejoice, Mary” as a way to greet her. This term “Chaire” is translated as “Hail” in Latin. The Eastern Church continues to use a similar greeting today in the Hail Mary prayer.
By the 11th century, the Western Church in Europe had expanded upon this greeting to Mary with additional phrases from the Gospel of Luke. Specifically, the words of the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee” (Luke 1:28), and the words of Elizabeth at the Visitation, “Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Luke 1:42) were incorporated. This early form of the Hail Mary prayer was known as the “Salutation of the Blessed Virgin Mary” or the “Angelic Salutation.” It began with the “Hail Mary” greeting and ended after the words “blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.” The next petitions were added sometime later.
During the Black Plague in the 14th century, the full Hail Mary prayer emerged with the additional petition, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.” By the 15th century, the prayer had become widely used in its current longer form. In 1568, Pope Pius V officially standardized the wording of the Hail Mary for the universal Roman Catholic Church to the form that is still used today.
The Text of the Hail Mary Prayer
Here is the full text of the Hail Mary prayer that is recited today in the Roman Catholic Church:
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.
As mentioned previously, the opening words “Hail Mary” are an ancient Christian greeting and acclamation to Mary. The next phrases “full of grace, the Lord is with thee” and “blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus” come directly from the Gospel of Luke.
The sentence “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death” was added later around the 14th century at the time of the Black Plague. This petition calls upon Mary’s intercession on behalf of all Christians as the Mother of Jesus. The prayer concludes with “Amen,” meaning “So be it.”
Gospel Passages Behind the Hail Mary Prayer
The Hail Mary prayer incorporates two specific passages from the Gospel of Luke:
- The Annunciation (Luke 1:28)
- The Visitation (Luke 1:42)
In the account of the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38), the angel Gabriel is sent to tell the Virgin Mary that she will miraculously conceive and bear the Son of God. When Gabriel greets Mary, he says, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee” (Luke 1:28). This passage provides the second sentence of the Hail Mary prayer.
The second passage used in the Hail Mary is from the Visitation narrative (Luke 1:39-56). After conceiving Jesus, Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth who is pregnant with John the Baptist. When Elizabeth hears Mary’s greeting, she exclaims through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Luke 1:42). This biblical text gives the third sentence of the Hail Mary.
So while the exact phrase “Hail Mary” is not stated in Scripture, the first few lines of the prayer come directly from these joyful Gospel passages about Mary and the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
The Annunciation (Luke 1:28)
“And coming to her, he said, ‘Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.'” (NRSV)
The Visitation (Luke 1:42)
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (NRSV)
Examples of Marian Greetings and Acclamations in the Bible
Although the precise phrase “Hail Mary” is not in the Bible, there are several examples of people offering greetings, acclamations, and petitions to Mary throughout the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles:
- The angel Gabriel says, “Rejoice, O highly favored daughter!” (Luke 1:28, NJB)
- Elizabeth says, “Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (Luke 1:42)
- Mary’s relative says, “Blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:45)
- A woman in the crowd raises her voice and says to Jesus, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” (Luke 11:27)
- After the Resurrection, the disciples “joined constantly in prayer, together with several women including Mary the mother of Jesus.” (Acts 1:14)
These verses provide biblical precedent for addressing Mary with praise, blessing, and honor as the mother of the Savior. While not worded exactly the same, they express similar kinds of greetings and petitions as found in the opening of the Hail Mary prayer.
Theological Meaning of the Hail Mary
For Roman Catholics, the Hail Mary is a prayer to Mary as the Mother of God and Mother of the Church. It expresses honor toward her, asks for her powerful intercessory prayers, and recalls the great mysteries of the Incarnation and Redemption through Christ’s birth. Mary’s special role in God’s plan of salvation is seen throughout her journey in Scripture from the Annunciation to the Cross to the Upper Room at Pentecost.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that Mary “is acclaimed and blessed because she believed in the fulfillment of the Lord’s word. In fact, a beatitude applies to her, as to all others who hear the word of God and keep it” (CCC #149). The prayer recognizes Mary’s singular sanctity and her revered position within the communion of saints.
Catholics do not worship Mary, but ask for her intercession and guidance in imitation of her virtues of faith, obedience, humility, and service to God’s will. The Hail Mary prayer is seen as a means of demonstrating love and honor for Christ’s mother that leads the faithful closer to her son Jesus.
Non-Catholic Perspectives on the Hail Mary Prayer
For Protestant, Orthodox, and other non-Catholic Christians, perspectives on the Hail Mary prayer vary greatly. Some of the major concerns include:
- Praying to Mary can detract from the worship and mediation of Christ
- The prayer attributes divine graces to Mary that only belong to God
- The petition seeks Mary’s intervention rather than praying directly to God
- Mary’s role is not emphasized in their particular tradition
However, some more ecumenically-minded Protestants see value in parts of the prayer that quote Scripture and focus on the mystery of the Incarnation. Occasional, thoughtful use of the Hail Mary by Protestants may be seen as a way to reconnect with the early Church’s Marian piety.
Eastern Orthodox Perspective
The Eastern Orthodox Church has retained a strong devotion to Mary since ancient times. Orthodox Christians highly venerate Mary as the Mother of God and utilize prayers that address her as the highest example of obedience, purity, and holiness. However, explicit prayers for Mary’s intercession are not a central part of their tradition.
Lutheran and Anglican Perspective
Some Lutherans and Anglicans occasionally include the first part of the Hail Mary (through “blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus”) in their prayers as a way of recalling the Incarnation. However, direct petitions requesting Mary’s intercession are not practiced.
Reformed Perspective
Most followers of Reformed and Calvinist theology reject the Hail Mary prayer entirely as unbiblical and a form of idolatry. They argue it wrongly exalts Mary beyond her appropriate place in salvation history.
| Christian Tradition | Use of Hail Mary |
|---|---|
| Roman Catholic | Full prayer said devotionally and at Mass |
| Eastern Orthodox | Similar greetings used, but no direct petitions for Mary’s intercession |
| Lutheran and Anglican | Biblical portions may be used, but intercessory petitions avoided |
| Reformed/Calvinist | Rejected as improper veneration of Mary |
This table summarizes the use and acceptance of the Hail Mary prayer across major Christian traditions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the exact phrase “Hail Mary” does not appear in Scripture, the prayer originates from two joyful Gospel passages about Mary and Christ’s birth. For Roman Catholics, the Hail Mary is a beloved petition to the Mother of God. However, non-Catholic Christians have traditionally been less accepting of直接 addressing Mary in intercessory prayer. While not stated verbatim in the Bible, the Hail Mary prayer encapsulates key doctrines about Mary’s divine motherhood and her vital role in the Christian story of redemption through Christ.