Prayer Text
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.
Daily Prayers
Hail Mary
A beloved Marian prayer rooted in Scripture and the Church's trust in Our Lady's intercession.
How To Pray This
The Hail Mary is often prayed morning and evening, in times of anxiety, and throughout Marian devotions.
- Ask Mary to lead you closer to Jesus rather than to herself.
- Pray the first half with gratitude for the Incarnation and the second half with humility about your need for grace.
- Use one Hail Mary slowly or several within the Rosary, Angelus, or other Marian devotions.
Many Catholics pause slightly at the Holy Name of Jesus as the heart of the prayer.
Prayer FAQs
Is the Hail Mary based on the Bible?
Yes. Its opening words come from Gabriel and Elizabeth in Luke 1, and the Church completes the prayer with a request for Mary's intercession.
Why do Catholics ask Mary to pray for them?
Catholics ask Mary to pray for them for the same reason Christians ask one another for prayer: because the saints are alive in Christ and intercede for the Church.