Latin
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
English
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen.
Spanish
Dios te salve, María;
llena eres de gracia; el Seńor es contigo;
bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres,
y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre, Jesús.
Santa María, Madre de Dios,
ruega por nosotros, pecadores,
ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte.
Amén.
Gloria al Padre
Gloria al Padre y al Hijo y al Espíritu Santo. Como era en el principio, ahora y siempre, por los siglos de los siglos.
Amén.
The Ave Maria: A Prayer’s Historical Journey
The Ave Maria, revered as one of the most significant Marian prayers, has a rich history that spans centuries of Christian tradition. This prayer, cherished by millions of faithful around the world, evolved gradually, drawing from scriptural sources and liturgical practices.
The Structure of the Prayer
The Ave Maria consists of two distinct parts: a scriptural portion and an intercessory portion. Each part has its own historical development, contributing to the prayer’s depth and significance.
Part I: Scriptural Foundations
The first half of the Ave Maria is rooted deeply in Scripture, combining two pivotal moments from the Gospel of Luke:
- The Angelic Salutation: The words of the Angel Gabriel at the Annunciation (Luke 1:28)
- Elizabeth’s Greeting: The exclamation of Elizabeth to Mary at the Visitation (Luke 1:42)
This combination of scriptural passages has ancient origins. Evidence suggests its use in Eastern liturgies as early as the fourth or fifth century, appearing in the liturgies of St. James of Antioch and St. Mark of Alexandria. By 538 AD, it was recorded in the ritual of St. Severus, indicating its established presence in early Christian worship.
In the Western Church, the prayer’s adoption came slightly later. By the seventh century, it had found its place in Roman liturgy, used as an offertory antiphon for the Feast of the Annunciation. The eleventh century saw its growing popularity, as attested in the writings of St. Peter Damian (1007-1072) and Hermann of Tournai (d.c. 1147).
A significant addition came around 1262 when Pope Urban IV incorporated the name of Jesus at the conclusion of these scriptural passages, further emphasizing the Christocentric nature of the prayer.
Part II: The Intercessory Petition
The second half of the Ave Maria, beginning with “Holy Mary,” emerged much later in the prayer’s development. Its origins can be traced to the 15th century, where two distinct endings gained prominence:
- “Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus” (Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners), found in the writings of St. Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444 AD) and used by the Carthusians.
- “Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis nunc et in hora mortis nostrae” (Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us now and at the hour of our death), used by the Servites, in a Roman Breviary, and in some German dioceses.
Standardization and Official Recognition
The Ave Maria as we know it today reached its final form in the 16th century. This standardized version was given official recognition when it was included in the reformed Breviary promulgated by Pope St. Pius V in 1568.
This prayer, with its profound scriptural roots and centuries of devotional development, continues to hold a central place in Catholic spirituality. Its journey from disparate scriptural quotations to a unified, widely-recited prayer reflects the dynamic nature of Christian tradition and the enduring devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.