Prayer with Mary
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Simplified
Mary's Universal Motherhood (2673-2674)
Through Jesus' glorified humanity, our prayer unites us with his mother (Acts 1:14).
Her consent of faith (given at the Annunciation) perdured to the cross of Jesus. Jesus, the only mediator, is the way of our prayer. Mary shows us to the way.
Two Distinct Movements (2675)
The Church developed prayers to the Mother of God which show two distinct movements. The first magnifies God for his great deeds toward Mary. The second entrusts our petitions to Mary (who knows Jesus' humanity so well).
The Hail Mary expresses these two movements. "Hail Mary" is God's greeting, showing God's high regard for her lowliness. "Full of grace, the Lord is with thee" reveals two truths. First, Mary is filled with grace because the Lord is with her. She is "the Ark of the Covenant, the dwelling of God with men" (Rev 21:3). Second, as "full of grace" she gives herself totally to Jesus whom she will give to the world.
Elizabeth's Words (2676)
"Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus." Elizabeth said these words when she "was filled with the Holy Spirit." Mary was blessed because she "believed that the Lord's Word would be fulfilled" (Lk 1:42-45). Mary became the mother of believers who will receive the fruit of her womb.
"Holy Mary, Mother of God" (2677)
Because she gave us Jesus, Mary is the Mother of God and our mother. Her prayer for us is "Let it be done according to your Word" (Lk 1:38).
"Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death." By asking her prayers, we entrust ourselves to her both today and at "the hour of death."
The Rosary (2678-2679)
Medieval piety developed the rosary in place of the Liturgy of the Hours. In the East, the Marian litany stayed closer to the Byzantine choral office. Other traditions (Armenian, Coptic, Syriac) developed popular hymns to Mary.
Mary is the perfect pray-er, and when we pray to her we adhere to the Father's plan.
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