What is Ave Maria?

Ave Maria is a Catholic prayer that is addressed to the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. The prayer is based on the words of the angel Gabriel to Mary at the Annunciation, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke. The prayer begins with the words "Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee." The rest of the prayer is a plea for Mary to intercede with God on behalf of the person praying. The Ave Maria is often prayed in conjunction with the Rosary, a series of prayers that are said while meditating on the mysteries of the life of Jesus and Mary.

The Ave Maria is one of the most popular prayers in the Catholic Church, and it is often used as a prayer of devotion to Mary. The prayer is also used as a prayer of petition, asking for Mary to intercede with God on behalf of the person praying.

Here is the full text of the Ave Maria:

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.