The Hail Mary and Time on Earth

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In the Hail Mary we pray: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.”

From what I understand, there is no time in heaven as on earth. If that is so, then how do the times that we refer to on earth relate to how Mary prays for us?

Thank You
 
Mary does constantly intercede for all makind at all times - rather like at Cana where, rather than necessarily waiting to be asked, she perceived the need and acted upon it.

To me, ‘at the hour of our death’ doesn’t necessarily relate to the TIME we want her to intercede, rather the WAY. We know that we need to be prepared for our death, but that preparation begins now and is a daily and hourly thing. So we’re seeking her intercessory help in this regard, but not necessarily only at a specific time shortly prior to death, rather on an ongoing hourly and daily basis.

Hope that makes sense.
 
Awesome answer, Lily! :clapping: You hit the nail right on the head! Thanks!
 
I don’t know if there is time in heaven that corresponds to time on earth or if there is time in heaven at all (in terms of how we understand it). What does “at all times” mean when referring to heaven?

Thank You
 
Coder said:
I don’t know if there is time in heaven that corresponds to time on earth or if there is time in heaven at all (in terms of how we understand it). What does “at all times” mean when referring to heaven?

Thank You
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I wasn’t referring to heaven’s time or lack thereof, I meant she prays for us at each moment of OUR time, as WE perceive it. You’re right, heaven is outside of time - time (in the form of day and night) was a creation of God, so He isn’t bound by it and is outside of it, hence heaven being eternal.
 
hi coder! if your concern is about time and not the meaning of Hail Mary, then this is what i can say: God lives both in time and in eternity, both in space and in nonspace because everything is his subject and he is in every place and time and in every timeless and spaceless dimension in that case. Remember Jesus said, “I will be with you till the end of times.” Will there be a question whether there is time in heaven where Jesus is because of that “earthly” statement? Our prayer, like God to whom they are directed, are both in time and in eternity. I don’t see any problem with that.

the answer may be unstructured but you will see the point there…i hope.
 
Thank you previous posters.

Is it possible that we have a mistranslation in English and that the correct understanding is closer to “now until the hour of our death”? This would mean that we ask Mary’s prayer for us to help us to get to heaven. Perhaps all our prayers to Mary in our time are “heard” in eternity but not in time. This is my attempt to convey a concept that is perhaps helpful. I don’t claim to have the answer. This is considering that Mary can hear all the prayers of all humanity as a whole in heaven and by the power of God.
 
Quite confident that if our theology is askew in prayer, it will be overlooked tenderly and compassionately in Heaven.

However, if there is indeed something askew theologically in the wording of our well known prayers, then perhaps it should be amended…and too for the benefit of all including non Catholics “looking on” and “into”. Without taking political correctness and all its many relatives to a positive extreme hopefully.

Barb:)
 
…ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae.

This is the last line of the Latin version of Hail Mary and based on this, the English version is accurate as the conjunction “et” was used which means “and”.

Since the time I realized this until now, this is what I believe to be the rationale:

It is much easier to compose this as “pray for us sinners” period. However, the current wordings emphasize something. The term “now” refers to our everyday life (the present) just like the line “give us this day our daily bread” in the Our Father. On the other hand, the line “and at the hour of our death” confesses the belief that we are being aided by Mary, more than ever, while approaching death for the simple reason that we are being tempted the most in these hours. We need more strength than ever and so needs more prayers.

The distinction is on the need and at the time.
 
I’m not sure this is referring to time in the literal sense. I believe it refers to “the times of our lives.” In other words, please pray for us now as we go about our daily lives, and pray for us as we are dying. Heaven knows when we need prayers, which is always, but especially as we are going through trial or transition. The holy mother knows when you need prayer and she will provide it.
 
As humans we can’t relate to existence outside of time. We can’t even imagine it really. But God has provided or created time for us here on earth and our deaths are real events which will occur at a specific point in that time and He is concerned with our relationship with Him at our deaths so the prayer is meant for us and He takes care of the rest.
 
I think when we pray we should not think in terms of “when” Mary prays for us but rather that she prays for us in regards to these times of our lives.

The above seems to be inline with what some posters are saying, so I’m not necessarily saying anything new but trying to clarify.

Many may have understood this concept already and interpret the words as such. However, there may be many who pray the Hail Mary without this better understanding and are thinking in terms of “when” Mary prays for us. I think the correct understanding is important.

This is apparently an ending of the prayer in the 14th century:

newadvent.org/cathen/07110b.htm

Oh blessed Virgin, pray to God for us always, that He may pardon us and give us grace, so to live here below that He may reward us with paradise at our death.

Note also what the Catechism says (2677):
usccb.org/catechism/text/pt4sect1chpt2art2.htm

And our trust broadens further, already at the present moment, to surrender “the hour of our death” wholly to her care.

Thanks everyone. Let’s pray for each other in our next Hail Mary prayers!
 
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