When the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy in my womb. But she reveres her Lord's Mother.Īnd then she adds something truly interesting: Notice, she does not say, 'How is it that this random and unimportant pregnant woman brings my Lord near me?'Įlizabeth is indeed near her Lord.

How is it that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? If you are a Protestant and still need more evidence of Mary's significance, notice the following.ĭespite the inestimable value of our Lord, Elizabeth says to her kinswoman Mary: In other words, do you believe that she gave birth, not just to the human shell, but the whole human and divine person, and therefore is rightly called the Blessed Birthgiver of God? Keep in mind, this title is more about what you believe regarding Jesus than it is about Mary.ĭo you believe that the Second Person of the Trinity took human flesh so completely that the person Mary gave birth to was both human and divine? In the second half of this prayer, we have the opportunity to address Mary with the title 'Mother of God' (Greek: Θεοτόκος).

If your church community does not on any regular basis talk about Mary as being blessed, you should join us.and the Angels. Notice, and this is important, both the Archangel and Elizabeth tell Mary that she is 'Blessed among women.'Īnd to remove any doubt, Mary herself then proclaims:įrom now on, all generations will call me blessed. Next we are beside Elizabeth, as she addresses her kinswoman:īlessed (are) you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Hail, O One Full of Grace! The Lord is with you. When we recite this prayer, we are first beside the Archangel Gabriel at the Annunciation. In the Lutheran Church of my nurture (for which I am indeed grateful for many things), I was taught to never practice Saint Intercession, something there held as nigh unto Satan worship.īut having come into the Communion of the Historical Church, I rejoice that I am now free to practice the faith of the First (and Second and Third) Millennium and address the Dead of the Church Suffering and Triumphant. The Hail Mary is one of the most beloved prayers in the Catholic church.

What is the hail mary in latin