The Hail Mary prayer is deeply biblical and predates the writings of St. Paul. It is based on the words of the angel Gabriel and Elizabeth in Luke 1:28-42:

• “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee” – These are Gabriel’s words to Mary (Luke 1:28).

•“Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” – These are Elizabeth’s words when she was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:42).

Praying the Hail Mary is meditating on Scripture and honoring Mary’s role in bringing Jesus Christ into the world.