There is Something About Mary Series – Need More Faith, Hope and Love?

Ponder:  Our spiritual mother Mary is with us now, and always, even until our death.  She is a role model for faith, hope and love.

After the Sign of the Cross, the Apostles’ Creed and the Our Father, we say the Hail Mary prayer for each of the following three beads (#3 below).

Saint Pope John Paul II, who was devoted to Blessed Mother, wrote of the importance and meaning of this prayer in his apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae. The Hail Mary prayer is separated into two main parts: recognizing Mary as the sinless mother of Jesus, the one who gave birth to our Savior, and played a role in our salvation and asking the Blessed Mother to pray for us “now and the hour of our death” and to be an intercessor before her son.  The Hail Mary, which is derived, in part, from the greetings of the angel Gabriel and Mary’s relative Elizabeth in Scripture (Luke 1:28, 42).  As we pray the introductory triplet of the Hail Mary, we request an increase in faith, hope, and love. 

Pray: Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen

Reflect:  Oh Mary, where would I be if Jesus had not died for my sins, pouring out His grace and mercy into my life? How scary and confusing it must have been for you to say yes to God’s plan to give birth to Jesus but you did it anyway in complete trust and faith.  Help me to have a faith like yours.  Help me always point to your son Jesus to walk the path of faith, hope and love so I can be the person God designed me to be so I can set the world on fire!

Next, we pray the Glory Be (#4 below), which gives praise to the three persons of our one God.  This is also known as the Doxology.

Pray: The Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen

Reflect:  I turn my eyes to you, one God in the three persons of the trinity giving you the glory!  I get my eyes of myself and behold your glory.  You are my creator, my origin and my destiny. Thank you for lifting my perspective so I can see the fullness of my reality.  Thank you for the gift of eternal life. 

Act:  I will make the effort to look up when I am outside today and say Hail Mary!