Rest on the Flight into Egypt, Gerard David, c. 1510

History

The devotion of praying three Hail Marys every day dates back to the 13th century. Saint Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) recommended saying three Hail Marys to honour the spotless Virginity of Mary and to preserve a perfect purity of mind, heart and body in the midst of the dangers of the world.

Saint Mechtilde of Hackeborn (1241-1298), a German Benedictine nun, received a message from Our Lady revealing a prayer of thanksgiving to the Holy Trinity for the privileges granted to the Virgin Mary.

Our Lady's message to Saint Mechtilde included:

"The first Hail Mary will be in honour of God the Father, Whose omnipotence raised my soul so high above every other creature that, after God, I have the greatest power in Heaven and on earth. In the hour of your death I will use that power of God the Father to keep any hostile power from you.

"The second Hail Mary will be in honour of God the Son, Who communicated His inscrutable wisdom to me . . . In the hour of your death I will fill your soul with the light of that wisdom so that all the darkness of ignorance and error will be dispelled.

"The third Hail Mary will be in honour of God the Holy Ghost, Who filled my soul with the sweetness of His love and tenderness and mercy . . . In your last hour I will then change the bitterness of death into Divine sweetness and delight."

The devotion was also promoted by Saint Leonard of Port Maurice (1676-1751) who recommended the three Hail Marys be recited morning and evening in honour of Mary Immaculate, to obtain the grace of avoiding all mortal sins during the day or at night.

Holy Family, Attributed to Workshop of Bartolome Esteban Murillo, c. 1660s -1670s

Form of Three Hail Marys Devotion from Saint Leonard of Port Maurice (1676-1751). The aspiration after each Hail Mary to the Immaculate Conception was added by Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787).

Act of Consecration to Our Lady of the Blessed Trinity

With all my heart I praise Thee, Most Holy Virgin above all Angels and Saints in Paradise, beloved Daughter of the Eternal Father, and I consecrate to Thee my soul with all its faculties.

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.

By thy holy and Immaculate Conception, O Mary, make my body pure and my soul holy; preserve me this day [this night] from mortal sin.

With all my heart I praise Thee, Most Holy Virgin above all Angels and Saints in Paradise, beloved Mother of the Son of God, and I consecrate to Thee my body with all its senses.

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.

By thy holy and Immaculate Conception, O Mary, make my body pure and my soul holy; preserve me this day [this night] from mortal sin.

With all my heart I praise Thee, Most Holy Virgin above all Angels and Saints in Paradise, beloved Spouse
of the Holy Ghost, and I consecrate to Thee my heart with all its affections, and beseech Thee to obtain for me from the Most Holy Trinity all the graces necessary for salvation.

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.

By thy holy and Immaculate Conception, O Mary, make my body pure and my soul holy; preserve me this day [this night] from mortal sin.

The Hail Mary in 50 languages is on this website here.

Virgin and Child, from an Adoration Group, Workshop of Hans Thoman, c. 1515-1520

This Webpage first posted on

The Feast Day of Our Lady Help of Christians, 24 May 2022.

Immaculate Queen of Peace, pray for us.