Hail Mary

"Without introducing himself [to Mary], the Angel can therefore begin immediately with his greeting: ‘Hail, full of grace.’ In this first form of greeting, he immediately gives her the title that is due to her, as he has no doubt that she will accept everything. Without having said it, with her demeanour and her constant expectation of the path reserved for her by God, Mary has already said her yes. The angel can therefore continue: ‘The Lord is with you!’ She has not yet conceived the Lord, but he is already with her because he has chosen her as his Mother, and with the same certainty with which the angel now addresses his announcement to her, the Lord also knew that she would accept everything, even to have him as her Son."

"The Hail Mary has inspired poetry, painting, sculpture and music. In music, the Hail Mary sounded divine."

"Giuseppe Cesare Abba, Scritti vari, Morcelliana, 1995."

"Quann'ero ragazzino, | mamma mia me diceva: | Ricordati, fijolo, | quanno te senti veramente solo | tu prova a recità n'Ave Maria."

"More good can be done with a well-said Hail Mary than in the Mission field by neglecting one's duty."

"What art thou, Mary, thou who wilt presently bring forth? Whence hast thou merited, whence hast thou obtained this favor? Whence is it that He who made thee will be made in thee? Whence, I say, does this great gift come to thee? Thou art a virgin, thou art holy, thou hast vowed a vow. True, thou hast merited much; or better, thou hast received much. But how hast thou merited it? He who made thee is being made in thee. He is made in thee by whom thou thyself wast made; rather should I say, by whom heaven and earth were made, by whom all things were made; the Word of God is made flesh in thee, by taking flesh, not by losing divinity. The Word is joined to flesh; the Word is wedded to flesh, and the bridal chamber of this exalted marriage in thy womb. Let me repeat, the bridal chamber of this exalted marriage between the Word and flesh in thy womb, whence "he, the bridegroom, goes forth from his bridal chamber" (Ps. 18:6). He finds thee a virgin at His conception. He leaves thee a virgin at His birth. He gives thee fecundity. He takes not away thy integrity. Whence is this to thee? Perhaps I am too forward in asking such questions of a virgin and, I might say, somewhat rude in shocking thy bashful essay with such words. But I see a virgin who is indeed bashful, and yet one who can answer and at the same time put me in my place. "Dost thou ask of me whence is this? I blush to answer thy questions as to my blessedness. Rather, listen to the Angel's salutation... Believe him who I believed. Do you ask whence have I this favor? Let the Angel reply." Tell me, Angel, whence has Mary this?" I already said when I saluted her: 'Hail, full of grace'. ""