Hail Mary

 

Dear Parishioners,

It has been said that the late Cardinal Annibale Bugnini, architect of the 1969 Novus Ordo Missae (the so-called “New Mass”), had proposed not only an alteration of the Mass, but the Rosary as well.

 Reportedly, he wanted to omit the final part of the Hail Mary, the part which goes “Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.” 

This being the only non-scriptural part of the prayer, it was suggested that this part be cut to focus more on the words of scripture from Luke’s gospel which makes up most of the prayer. That being said, I am glad that the Hail Mary has remained unaltered. 

The last part of the Hail Mary accomplishes many things. First, it affirms what the bishops at the council of Ephesus in AD 431 decreed, that Mary is indeed the Mother of God despite objections by the Nestorian heretics of the fifth century (and indeed also many Protestant heretics of the present day). Mary “Full of grace” is rightly called “Holy Mary” as a consequence of the great graces she received from Her Lord and her perfect response to God. That she should be the servant of God and Mother of God simultaneously is a mystery of faith that we should receive with wonder and joy. 

Secondly, it acknowledges in the final petition that we are sinners in need of Mary’s powerful intercession. Jesus entrusts us to Mary’s care from the cross. If Mary is our Mother, would she not pray for us, since scripture tells us to pray for each other (James 5:16)? If Mary is highest among creatures, is her intercession not the most powerful as mediatrix, second only to the mediation of Christ? It must be said and remembered since the earliest centuries of the Christian faith, that Mary is not only the Mother of God, but the intercessor of sinners. 

Thirdly, the last words of the Hail Mary focus our attention on a subject which we as a Church will delve into in the next few weeks. The reality of death is present always in our broken world, and in November we pray for the faithful departed. We ourselves will be as our dearly departed are now; what happened to them will happen to us. Mary who was assumed body and soul into heaven already experiences what we hope for: eternal glory in heaven and the resurrection of our mortal bodies. 

It is therefore fitting then that Mary, whose intercession we ask for now as well as at the hour of our death, will accompany us lovingly as we pray for ourselves and our departed loved ones this upcoming November. When we pray the rosary in each of our beautiful cemeteries, let us ask Mary to intercede to God for us and for all our departed loved ones, that the Lord Jesus will do for us and all the Church what he has already accomplished for His Mother. If we imitate Her in love and holiness, then we will share Her eternal triumph. 

God bless you all, 

In Christ, 

Fr. Nick  Ward

Immaculate Conception Ozark, Ohio

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