The “Hail Mary” is part of the Rosary, a prayer to Mary that is promoted in the Catholic Church. It is quoted from two places in the gospel of Luke. The first is where the angel Gabriel addresses Mary, and the second is from Elizabeth’s comment to Mary.
- “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you,” (Luke 1:28).
- “Blessed among women are you, and blessed is the fruit of your womb,” (Luke 1:42).
The Roman Catholic Church added the word “Mary” to Luke 1:28 so that the “Hail Mary” became “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed among women are you, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”