The practice of "Hail Mary" in Catholicism is rooted in a passage from the New Testament, specifically in the Gospel of Luke 1:28 and 1:42. The Hail Mary prayer combines these verses with a petition for the intercession of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The prayer goes as follows:
"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."
While some Protestant
denominations may view the invocation of Mary in prayer as contrary to their
beliefs, Catholics see it as a form of asking for Mary's intercession or
prayers on behalf of believers, much like asking a fellow Christian to pray for
them. Catholics believe in the Communion of Saints, which includes the idea
that saints in heaven can intercede for those on Earth.
The term "Hail Mary"
itself comes from the words spoken by the angel Gabriel when he appeared to
Mary to announce that she would conceive and bear Jesus (Luke 1:28). The second
part of the prayer, "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,"
is a petition for Mary's intercession, asking her to pray for the person
reciting the prayer.
Catholic theology holds that Mary
occupies a special place among the saints due to her role as the mother of
Jesus, and Catholics believe that asking for her intercession is a valid form
of prayer. This practice is firmly rooted in Catholic tradition and theology
and is not seen as contradictory to the teachings of the Bible, but rather as a
legitimate expression of devotion and faith.
Therefore, Catholics do not see
the practice of "Hail Mary" as forbidden by the Bible but as a form
of honouring Mary and seeking her prayers, in accordance with their
understanding of Christian doctrine and tradition.
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