Hail Mary

Image: from Unsplash

St Robert Bellarmine in his Catechism is asked by a student, “Why do we say the Hail Mary?” In this month dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows his response should prompt us to turn always to Our Blessed Mother:

“This is the formula with which we greet her, just as friends, and we make ourselves known to her, as so we ought to make bold to go to her. We use the words of the Angel because we know how greatly she would rejoice to frequently hear that unique good that was conveyed to her by the Angel when we say these words. Besides, she rejoices because she sees us mindful of the Divine benefit toward grateful benefactors.”