Why Do Catholics Say The Hail Mary?

[ephesians4]

I’m curious to why Catholics say the Hail Mary? Unfortunately I don’t feel comfortable saying it as I believe that I should pray to God through Jesus and no one else. I also don’t like how other people say that Catholics worship statues and things like that.

This is problematic to a lot of people, as it seems wrong on a fundamental level and seems to go against the scriptures, like lots of other catholic traditions. I am speaking in honest, good faith personal terms here and not pronouncing it to be so, before anyone takes it that I’m saying catholicism has it wrong.

I still feel very uncomfortable about the possibility of Mariolatry, intercession, repetitions and the wearing of/touching of/praying before carved or painted images of our Lord or other important figures from the Bible.

I think it must be said, you are in capable, kind and considerate hands on these forums if you are looking to discuss your doubts - I think this place is (generally) admirable in that sense. When I came here with these questions I had recommended to me, by a fellow forum goer, a book called (at this point I go digging around for the book - aha, there it is! ) True Devotion to Mary: With Preparation for Total Consecration ( amazon.com/True-Devotion-Mary-Preparation-Consecration/dp/1783790008 ) - other book retailers are available.

I had an experience, following that advice, of what people call the presence of Mary, and as a generally sane person (despite how I might come across online ) with a slightly puritan bent I have never really known what to make of it - especially because it was wonderful at the time - but you might see things differently to me.

If you don’t, well it is not (cannot be) compulsory to place the same importance on different aspects of the ritual as everybody else.

 

[Winter_Rose]

Interesting but why?

Well, I don’t want to sound horrible or cause offence, but I wasn’t baptised as a Catholic or brought up as a Catholic. However I decided to become a Catholic later on as I believed that it was the path that God had chosen for me and I really enjoy going to the church that I’m going to as everyone is friendly and polite. However I was taught that we should pray to God only through Jesus who is our mediator.

 

[St_Redemption]

I’m not certain that I understand your objection to praying the ‘Hail Mary.’

The first half of the prayer is Scriptural – in praying, we’re quoting Scripture. The second half of the Hail Mary is simply asking Mary to pray for us: in Scripture, we’re told to pray for one another.

‘Devotion to Mary’ aside… what’s the problem with this prayer?

I’m not necessarily objected to it. Im interested to learn its basis. I know that the answer I will get is, “it’s passed down from tradition.” I too believe strongly in tradition. So long as it has been accurately preserved. I want to know if the Church fathers (for example) prayed as often to Mary as later Catholics do.

 

[johnnyc176]

I’m not necessarily objected to it. Im interested to learn its basis. I know that the answer I will get is, “it’s passed down from tradition.” I too believe strongly in tradition. So long as it has been accurately preserved. I want to know if the Church fathers (for example) prayed as often to Mary as later Catholics do.

We really can’t know how often the Church Fathers prayed to Mary because prayers are private. But knowing how they looked on her as the New Eve, the Ark of the New Covenant, the Mother of God and, as I pointed out earlier, the belief that Jesus gave His mother to the Church it’s really not hard to see that she held a special place.

 

[johnnyc176]

Well, I don’t want to sound horrible or cause offence, but I wasn’t baptised as a Catholic or brought up as a Catholic. However I decided to become a Catholic later on as I believed that it was the path that God had chosen for me and I really enjoy going to the church that I’m going to as everyone is friendly and polite. However I was taught that we should pray to God only through Jesus who is our mediator.

You do realize that very often in the Mass you ask the Blessed Mother, all the angels and saints as well as your brothers and sisters to pray for you?

 

[Winter_Rose]

You do realize that very often in the Mass you ask the Blessed Mother, all the angels and saints as well as your brothers and sisters to pray for you?

Yes, I know, but I want to remember who she is and what she did for us, but I don’t want to make her into some sort of diety.

 

[ericc]

I’m not necessarily objected to it. Im interested to learn its basis. I know that the answer I will get is, “it’s passed down from tradition.” I too believe strongly in tradition. So long as it has been accurately preserved. I want to know if the Church fathers (for example) prayed as often to Mary as later Catholics do.

Dr. Mark Miravalle has a writeup in which he says “Direct prayer to Mary is also found in a sermon of the great Eastern Father, St. Gregory Nazianzen (330-389).”

piercedhearts.org/hearts_jesus_mary/heart_mary/mary_early_church_miravalle.htm

and in his book books.google.com.my/books?id=05UUAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT24&lpg=PT24&dq=St.+Gregory+Nazianzen+prayer+to+mary&source=bl&ots=6y5F0By4k8&sig=zaIZbz8BsmvA26QgkdE1H5XJqYA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=D4ObVaHWK4vA0gSI55PoDA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=St.%20Gregory%20Nazianzen%20prayer%20to%20mary&f=false

And he further states "the most complete ancient prayer to the Blessed Mother historically preserved is the Sub Tuum Praesidium (250 A.D.):

We fly to your patronage,
O holy Mother of God,
despise not our petitions
in our necessities,
but deliver us from all dangers.
O ever glorious and blessed Virgin."

 

[7_Sorrows]

for many converts, Mary can be an obstacle, but when you come to know Mary as the Mother of God, the role she played in God’s plan, she was part of the salvation story from the annunciation through the Pentecost and until her assumption and coronation in Heaven.
She was a Jewish Mother who presented her son at the Temple and raised him according to the Jewish life. She was at the foot of the cross when Jesus died and she was in the Upper Room when the Holy Spirit descended. She knew the apostles. She watched her son die on the cross. think of the connection between mother and child. Mary was always there.
I would recommend reading books on Mary so you have a better understanding of what Catholics believe about her. Don’t be afraid to love her and honor her for being the Mother of God.

 

[Jeanne_S]

for many converts, Mary can be an obstacle, but when you come to know Mary as the Mother of God, the role she played in God’s plan, she was part of the salvation story from the annunciation through the Pentecost and until her assumption an d coronation in Heaven.
She was a Jewish Mother who presented her son at the Temple and raised him according to the Jewish life. She was at the foot of the cross when Jesus died and she was in the Upper Room when the Holy Spirit descended. She knew the apostles. She watched her son die on the cross. think of the connection between mother and child. Mary was always there.
I would recommend reading books on Mary so you have a better understanding of what Catholics believe about her. Don’t be afraid to love her and honor her for being the Mother of God.

Beautiful!

 

[Micosil]

Dr. Mark Miravalle has a writeup in which he says “Direct prayer to Mary is also found in a sermon of the great Eastern Father, St. Gregory Nazianzen (330-389).”

piercedhearts.org/hearts_jesus_mary/heart_mary/mary_early_church_miravalle.htm

and in his book books.google.com.my/books?id=05UUAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT24&lpg=PT24&dq=St.+Gregory+Nazianzen+prayer+to+mary&source=bl&ots=6y5F0By4k8&sig=zaIZbz8BsmvA26QgkdE1H5XJqYA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=D4ObVaHWK4vA0gSI55PoDA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=St.%20Gregory%20Nazianzen%20prayer%20to%20mary&f=false

And he further states "the most complete ancient prayer to the Blessed Mother historically preserved is the Sub Tuum Praesidium (250 A.D.):

We fly to your patronage,
O holy Mother of God,
despise not our petitions
in our necessities,
but deliver us from all dangers.
O ever glorious and blessed Virgin."

Didn’t know that, that’s very early stuff. Thank you.

 

[Adonia]

I’m curious to why Catholics say the Hail Mary? Unfortunately I don’t feel comfortable saying it as I believe that I should pray to God through Jesus and no one else. I also don’t like how other people say that Catholics worship statues and things like that.

Because the first part of it is directly taken from the Scriptures. In addition to her name, the names of Jesus and God are mentioned too. And you should have no problem saying the second part either because all we are saying is a request for her to pray for us. It’s very Catholic, a teaching from the Church, which means it is very biblical.

 

[Brendan]

To me it’s very difficult to state that one should pray through Mary based on vague lines in scripture like this. .

We don’t pray THROUGH Mary, we pray TO her.

The verb ‘to pray’ means to implore, or to humbly request. It comes from the Latin root "precarae’ which means the same thing.

As an example, look at Hamlet (Act 1 Scene 2) Queen Gertrude to her son, Hamlet

I pray thee, stay with us. Go not to Wittenberg.

What is Gertrude doing in regards to her son, simply it is issuing a prayer. A prayer to him, imploring him to stay and not to go to Whittenburg.

By vague I was specifically referring to the correlation by the post I was referring to wherein it was suggested that since a particular line in scripture called her blessed that therefore she should be prayed to

Anyone can be prayed to, heck, my 4 year old just did so to me, issuing a prayer that he could play outside