Is the ‘Hail Mary’ in the Bible? A Deep Dive into Scripture

The “Hail Mary” is one of the most cherished prayers in the Catholic tradition, often recited during the Rosary and in times of personal devotion. But have you ever wondered about its origins? Is the “Hail Mary” actually found in the Bible? Let’s dive into Scripture to explore the biblical roots of this beautiful prayer. The First Part: “Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee” The opening line of the “Hail Mary” prayer is directly drawn from the Gospel of Luke. In Luke 1:28, the angel Gabriel greets Mary with these words: “And he came to her and said, ‘Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!’”— Luke 1:28 (RSVCE) In this verse, the angel’s greeting “Hail” (or “Rejoice” in some translations) reflects a deep honor and reverence towards Mary. The phrase “full of grace” signifies that Mary is uniquely graced by God, chosen to be the mother of the Savior. This is not just a simple greeting but a divine affirmation of Mary’s special role in salvation history. The Second Part: “Blessed Art Thou Among Women, and Blessed is the Fruit of Thy Womb, Jesus” The second part of the “Hail Mary” is also found in Luke’s Gospel, specifically during the Visitation, when Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth. Upon seeing Mary, Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, exclaims: “And she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!’”— Luke 1:42 (RSVCE) Elizabeth’s words acknowledge the blessedness of Mary as the mother of the Messiah. Her greeting, inspired by the Holy Spirit, further confirms Mary’s unique role in God’s plan. The “fruit of thy womb” explicitly refers to Jesus, highlighting the significance of His Incarnation. The Third Part: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for Us Sinners, Now and at the Hour of Our Death” This final part of the prayer, while not a direct biblical quote, is a natural extension of the Scriptural references to Mary. The title “Mother of God” is rooted in the understanding of Mary as the Theotokos, a Greek term meaning “God-bearer.” This title was formally affirmed at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, based on the truth that Jesus is both fully God and fully man. The request for Mary’s intercession, “Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death,” reflects the Catholic belief in the Communion of Saints. As Christians, we believe that those who are in heaven, particularly Mary, can intercede for us before God. This concept is supported by Scripture in passages such as: “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”— James 5:16 (NIV) Since Mary is the most exalted of all saints, Catholics seek her intercession, especially at the critical moments of life and death. Conclusion: A Prayer Rooted in Scripture and Tradition While the “Hail Mary” prayer as we know it today is not found verbatim in the Bible, its components are deeply rooted in Scripture. The first two parts are direct quotations from the Gospel of Luke, while the third part reflects the early Church’s understanding of Mary’s unique role and the power of intercessory prayer. The “Hail Mary” serves as a reminder of God’s grace, the mystery of the Incarnation, and the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a prayer that has echoed through the centuries, drawing believers closer to Jesus through His Mother, who is indeed “full of grace.”

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How did St. Joseph die?

Little is known factually concerning the life of St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus. He is mentioned only a few times in the Gospels, and never says a word. However, most biblical scholars believe Joseph died prior to Jesus’ crucifixion. This is mainly due to the fact that Joseph was not present at the crucifixion and in the Gospel of John, Jesus entrusts his mother to someone outside the family (cf. John 19:27). Keeping in mind this historical scenario, many traditions hold that Joseph died in the arms or presence of Jesus and Mary. It’s a beautiful image, one that has led the Church to proclaim Joseph the patron saint of a “happy death.” There are numerous accounts of this moment, but one that is particularly touching is from the writings of Venerable Mother Mary of Jesus of Agreda (aka the bi-locating nun). She wrote about the episode in “Mystical City of God,” and it is recorded as a private revelation. Then this man of God, turning toward Christ, our Lord, in profoundest reverence, wished to kneel before Him. But the sweetest Jesus, coming near, received him in his arms, where, reclining his head upon them, Joseph said: “My highest Lord and God, Son of the eternal Father, Creator and Redeemer of the World, give thy blessing to thy servant and the works of thy hand; pardon, O most merciful King, the faults which I have committed in thy service and intercourse. I extol and magnify Thee and render eternal and heartfelt thanks to Thee for having, in thy ineffable condescension, chosen me to be the spouse of thy true Mother; let thy greatness and glory be my thanksgiving for all eternity.” The Redeemer of the world gave him his benediction, saying: “My father, rest in peace and in the grace of my eternal Father and mine; and to the Prophets and Saints, who await thee in limbo, bring the joyful news of the approach of their redemption.”‘ At these words of Jesus, and reclining in his arms, the most fortunate Saint Joseph expired and the Lord himself closed his eyes.   Whatever did happen, Joseph must have died a “happy death” surrounded by the most loving wife and son in the whole universe. Here is a short prayer to St. Joseph, asking him to intercede for us that our death may be “happy” as well. Read more… 

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The Number 13 Belongs to Mama Mary?

Is 13 really that unlucky? Or actually ‘Holy’ for it belongs to Mama Mary? ‘Friday the 13th’ day. The ‘unlucky’ truth is that, most of us are conditioned to think of this day is the unluckiest day for it falls under the ‘unluckiest’ number: 13. The number ’13’ is oftenly associated to badlucks. Several buildings either don’t have a 13th floor or 13th room. Some people even go the distance of not traveling on the 13th day or hosting important events on this day because of the fear that something will go wrong. However, the belief that the number 13 is bad luck or an unlucky number is essentially a superstition. And as Catholics, we should never engage ourselves in believing such. There’s more ‘Holy’ events to the number ’13’ that we need to consider. Aside from the traditional 13 Tuesdays Novena to St. Anthony of Padua, there are other holy events that actually belong to Mama Mary, specifically, to her title as the ‘Our Lady of Fatima.’ It’s not a trivial matter that she appeared on May 13. May is the month dedicated to Our Lady, but furthermore she appeared at Fatima on the thirteenth of every month for six months and confided three secrets in the children as well as asking them to make known her requests, that we were to offer a daily rosary and make reparation for our sins.  The Miracle of the Sun also occurred on October 13, which is the month dedicated to the rosary. Our Lady entrusted the rosary to St. Dominic in the 13th Century. During the descent of the Holy Spirit, Our Lady was the thirteenth person in the room. Also, ‘m’ is the 13th letter in the English alphabet. This might be coincidence, or it may owe to England’s Catholic days, when the letter ‘m’ for Mary was placed at number 13 in the series of letters because it honoured Our Lady, the thirteenth witness to the descent of the Holy Spirit. St John Paul II credited Our Lady with the miracle that saved his life – after he was shot three times by Mehmet Ali Agca on May 13 1981.Miraculously surviving the gun blast, the Polish Pope later placed the bullet into Our Lady’s crown at the shrine in Fatima on May 13 1982. St John Paul II could have chosen another day, but he decided on May 13 because it is the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. It would appear that Our Lady has a method of marking her presence on our earthly calendars. It’s a system that uses a certain number and one day a month. If so, the number is 13, and the day is the thirteenth of every month. There’s nothing to worry about unlucky 13, because this number is actually Holy, and it belongs to Mama Mary.

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A prayer to keep from feeling that you suffer alone

Give everything to God, your Heavenly Father. He is with you.We should never suffer alone because we can place all our pains and sorrows into the loving hands of God, our Heavenly Father! He has the power to comfort us in our time of need and bring spiritual consolation, even when the rest of our body aches. Below is a prayer from the book, Short Meditations and Prayers for the sick and afflicted, that can be used to place our sickness in the hands of God, asking him to help us endure our trials. Lord, I accept this sickness from your hands, and entirely resign myself to your blessed will, whether it be for life or death. Not my will, but yours be done; your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Lord, I submit to all the pains and uneasiness of this my illness. I desire to join my heart and voice with the whole Church of heaven and earth, in blessing you forever. I give you thanks from the bottom of my heart, for all your mercies and blessings bestowed upon me and your whole Church. O sweet Jesus, receive me into your arms in this day of my distress; hide me in your Wounds, bathe my soul in your precious Blood.   I love you, O my God, with my whole heart and soul, above all things: at least I desire so to love you. O come now and take full possession of my soul, and teach me to love you forever.

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God’s Presence in Loneliness: 10 Powerful Bible Quotes

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Matthew 28:20 “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Hebrews 13:5-6 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’” 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

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Navigating Life’s Storms: Finding Peace in Catholic Faith Amidst Turbulent Seas

Welcome, dear friends, to this journey through the stormy seas of life. Just as sailors face turbulent waters, so too do we encounter trials that test our mettle. But fear not, for in the Catholic faith, we find an anchor amidst the waves, a guiding light to lead us through the darkness. Join me as we explore how to navigate life’s storms with grace and courage. Navigating the Waves: Riding Life’s Challenges with FaithPicture yourself on a boat with the apostles, the winds howling and the waves crashing around you (Matthew 8:23-27). It’s a vivid reminder that life’s storms are inevitable. Yet, in these moments, we turn to our faith as our compass. Just as Christ calmed the storm, so too does He calm our fears and doubts. Through prayer and trust in God’s providence, we find the courage to face each wave with unwavering resolve. Anchoring in Faith: Cultivating Inner Peace Through Catholic SpiritualityImagine your soul as a ship seeking refuge amidst the storm. The sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation, are like safe harbors where we find solace and strength. Our devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints becomes our guiding star, leading us to the calm waters of inner peace. By immersing ourselves in Catholic traditions and deepening our prayer life, we anchor our souls in faith, finding serenity amidst life’s chaos. Navigating with Purpose: Finding Meaning in Catholic Wisdom Amidst Life’s ChaosIn the Catholic tradition, suffering takes on a deeper meaning when united with Christ’s passion (Colossians 1:24). Like navigators charting a course, we discern the purpose behind life’s trials. Through the wisdom of spiritual directors and the teachings of the Church, we find meaning in the midst of chaos. The Cross becomes our compass, guiding us towards a deeper understanding of God’s love and mercy. Embracing the Journey: Thriving in Catholic Faith Amidst Life’s TurmoilAs we journey through life’s storms, let us embrace the virtues of faith, hope, and charity (1 Corinthians 13:13). Like a crew working together on a ship, we find strength in community and support. The communion of saints surrounds us with love and encouragement, reminding us that we are never alone on our voyage. With Christ as our captain and the Church as our vessel, we navigate the seas of life with confidence and hope. Inspirations from Catholic Saints:– St. Therese of Lisieux, in her autobiography “The Story of a Soul,” teaches us to find joy in the little things and to trust in God’s providence, even amidst life’s trials.– St. Francis de Sales, in his work “Introduction to the Devout Life,” encourages us to cultivate a deep interior life through prayer and meditation, finding peace in God’s presence.– St. Teresa of Avila, in her classic “The Interior Castle,” invites us to journey inward, exploring the depths of our souls where God’s peace resides. Dear friends, as we navigate life’s storms together, may we find comfort in the arms of our loving God. Let us hold fast to our faith, trusting in His providence and mercy. With hearts full of prayer and souls anchored in Christ, we sail forth with courage and hope, knowing that calmer waters lie ahead. Fair winds and following seas, dear friends, as we journey onward together.

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Satan And His Attributes – Know Your Enemy

Satan And His Attributes By Bella Francis The Bible teaches that Satan is a fallen angel tempted by pride. He is said to be a seducer originally created as good and whose rebellion against the divine will is reflected in the temptation that he offered to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.The scene is the garden of Eden. The characters are God, the serpent, Adam, and Eve. The devil has just deceived Eve, and through her, Adam. With demonic pride in destruction, he has successfully marred God’s handiwork of creation, and dragged human beings—for whom God has a special love—into death and misery. God starts by addressing Satan, telling him he is going to eat dirt for the rest of his days. Then he reveals something that makes Satan cringe in horror—his ultimate defeat will come at the hands of a woman. God said ” I will establish a feud between thee and the woman, between thy offspring and hers; she is to crush thy head, while thou dost lie in ambush at her heels” Satan is a master theologian. He’s talked to God, interacted with God, believes in God’s existence, and knows more about God’s attributes and abilities than most…and yet Satan doesn’t love God.  Very few people believe in the devil these days,” stated Fulton Sheen in 1958, “which suits the devil very well. Do not be deceived. Satan is real and we must resist him, strong in our faith. However, do not be so terrified that you forget that God, His angels, and the grace He bestows on us are more powerful and that God limits what demons can do. Trust God; call to Him; frequently recite the 91st Psalm. Be sober and watchful and stay distant from the once-glorious fallen angels we rightly call demons. Let us ask St. Michael, the Archangel for protection St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.Amen. More on Mother of Refuge of the End Times Warning in May 2024? Luz de Maria Novena to Holy Spirit🕊️DAY 02-Pray With Us! Pentecost Novena begins today🕊️DAY 01-Pray With Us! Load More Go to Mother and Refuge Homepage Pieta of the Apocalypse: Essential End Time Prayers and Promises BUY NOW! Happiness and the Path of Spiritual Abundance (A Living Spring Book) BUY NOW! Live Prayers with Mother and Refuge:    Join us on Youtube and Telegram.

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“I Was in Hell: My Illumination of Conscience!” Testimony of Fabienne Guerrero

Based on the testimony of “I Was in Hell: My Illumination of Conscience“ Fabienne’s testimony is powerful. It shows the boundless sadness that takes hold of a life lived apart from God. But even more, it reveals the spiritual source of this ill-being that only an experience of Divine Mercy and Love allows us to know. What surge of light and sweetness penetrates one’s soul when it lets itself be touched by mercy and enters the life of the sacraments! We should never forget the sadness of our contemporaries who live far from God. A Christian can think with a certain levity that those who give in to their disordered passions or build their life upon uncertain and obscure beliefs can be happy. The truth is quite different. They carry within themselves a profound sadness, and in the flow of their life, they are prey to the power of the evil spirits that manipulate their freedom. The joy they display comes from their survival instinct. It is artificial but does not reveal itself as such until light enters their heart. Nothing is more powerful than the testimony of somebody who entered into the light after having known such darkness. A single gaze upon the Sacred Heart (this painting where Jesus points to the wound of His Heart, from which rays burst out) and the life of Fabienne, thirsting for love and chained to her passions, takes a flip. Jesus leads her to the source of liberation and healing that are the sacraments of Confession and of the Eucharist. Oh, if we could listen to this testimony! We could understand what liberations and illuminations the Sacrament of Reconciliation brings about. As a priest, I saw hundreds of lives turn from darkness to light in one single confession. That does not exclude that you need time to progressively consent to not returning to the slavery of sin that reactivates our links to the evil spirits. Those who share in the ill-being of Fabienne’s previous life will discover here the hidden face of many practices that they deemed innocent. It is not necessarily, the practices in themselves that are bad but, being deprived of a real relationship with God, they are built into a false religion. There are many gates through which the evil spirits take possession of the soul, and thus mistrust progressively ties it up by removing its freedom. We must always have mistrust of practices which we do not clearly know what is manifested through them. We rightfully label them as occult practices, in the sense that they serve as a cover. In reality, behind these “covers”, are spirits with evil intentions, hiding and working. Impersonal forces do not exist. God is a Person – light, sweetness, and tenderness. He has a face. Every face that hides itself is suspected of putting on a suspicious grin. We can only invite people who will read these lines to mistrust any relation with the spirits, hiding behind the facade of religious practice. What is actually hidden behind the spirits or the dead that speak through the voice of mediums? What mediation do these so-called mediums practice? The testimony of Fabienne expresses that to us. Often, behind these false manifestations of the dead that speak to the living, there are hidden evil spirits. In the long or short term, these “consultations” bring out that which Fabienne expressed very well for having lived it out: an evil being which carries with it an unbearable confusion for the soul. These evil spirits weave links that progressively limit freedom. This testimony reaches each one of us by showing the hidden face not only of our sins, but also of these troubling practices that invade our society and substitute themselves for the true religion. They promise the abatement of the ill-being that gnaws at our heart, wounded and thirsting for love, but they immerse us into an indefinable ill-being. The more we seek to free ourselves, the more we feel bound and prey to sadness. When the Mercy of Jesus entered the heart of Fabienne, she, in fact, discovered the flip side of the decor. First of all, she acknowledged her own responsibility – very important and very present in this testimony – and then the role of the evil spirits that sought to take her freedom and creep into her soul so as to possess her nearly totally. She became conscious of the ignorance in which she found herself and began to taste true freedom, the light that enlightens the heart and especially the infinite tenderness of God. In the great love of Jesus,−Father Jean Eudes Doctor of Theology My Illumination of Conscience— The peace of Jesus be with you! Beloved brothers and sisters, I come to witness today that Christ brought me back to life! My parents had me baptized a few days after my birth. I followed all the catechism classes, and I made my First Communion. My mother, a holy woman, taught me to pray every night. However, after my First Communion, I no longer attended the Catholic Church until 1996, when Jesus came to save me. I was 32 years old. I will tell you a bit about the life that I led all those years, far from Jesus. Searching for Love As soon as I turned 15, my life took a reversal. I began to smoke, frequented filthy bars, participated in card readings, practiced numerology, and wrote to astrologers. When I finished my studies in school, I spent all the weekends in discotheques, smoking hashish and drinking alcohol. I wore miniskirts and designer clothes. Without guilty feelings, I frolicked with the men I met. I was searching for Love with a capital L. Satan kept me bound and prevented me from turning towards the love of Christ. He blinded me with what men could give me: pleasure of the flesh, money, wellbeing, and the world. I was under his hellish bindings. I needed somebody to take much care of me….

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An ancient Irish litany to the Blessed Virgin Mary

It is likely that this litany was used at the monastery of Clonsast around the year 725 and was later translated into Latin. Here below is an English translation of the original Irish from the 8th century. O GREAT Mary, [pray for us]Mary, greatest of Marys,Most great of women,Queen of the angels,Mistress of the heavens,Woman full and replete with the grace of the Holy Spirit,Blessed and most blessed,Mother of eternal glory,Mother of the heavenly and earthly Church,Mother of love and indulgence,Mother of the golden light,Honor of the sky,Harbinger of peace.Gate of heaven,Golden casket, Couch of love and mercy,Temple of the Divinity,Beauty of virgins,Mistress of the tribes,Fountain of the gardens,Cleansing of sins,Washing of souls,Mother of orphans,Breast of the infants,Refuge of the wretched,Star of the sea,Handmaid of God,Mother of Christ,Abode of the Godhead,Graceful as the dove,Serene like the moon,Resplendent like the sun,Destruction of Eve s disgrace,Regeneration of life,Perfection of women,Chief of the virgins,Garden enclosed,Fountain sealed,Mother of God, Perpetual Virgin,Holy Virgin,Prudent Virgin,Serene Virgin,Chaste Virgin,Temple of the Living God,Throne of the Eternal King,Sanctuary of the Holy Spirit,Virgin of the root of Jesse,Cedar of Mount Lebanon,Cypress of Mount Sion,Crimson rose in the land of Jacob,Fruitful like the olive,Blooming like the palm,Glorious son-bearer,Light of Nazareth,Glory of Jerusalem,Beauty of the world,Noblest born of the Christian people,Queen of life,Ladder of Heaven, Hear the petition of the poor; spurn not the wounds and the groans of the miserable. Let our devotion and our sighs be carried through thee to the presence of the Creator, for we are not ourselves worthy of being heard because of our evil deserts. O powerful Mistress of heaven and earth, wipe out our trespasses and our sins. Destroy our wickedness and depravity. Raise the fallen, the debilitated, and the fettered. Loose the condemned. Repair through thyself the transgressions of our immorality and our vices. Bestow upon us through thyself the blossoms and ornaments of good actions and virtues. Appease for us the Judge by thy prayers and thy supplications. Allow us not, for mercy s sake, to be carried off from thee among the spoils of our enemies. Allow not our souls to be condemned, but take us to thyself for ever under thy protection. We, moreover, beseech and pray thee, holy Mary, to obtain, through thy potent supplication, before thy only Son, that is, Jesus Christ, the son of the living God, that God may defend us from all straits and temptations. Obtain also for us from the God of Creation the forgiveness and remission of all our sinsand trespasses, and that we may receive from Him further, through thy intercession, the everlasting habitation of the heavenly kingdom, through all eternity, in the presence of the saints and the saintly virgins of the world; which may we deserve, may we enjoy, for ever and ever. Amen.

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