"Blessed art thou among women; and blessed is the fruit of thy womb." - Luke 1:42
The Hail Mary consists of the utterances of the Angel, of Saint Elizabeth, and of the Church. By the Angel Mary is told that she possesses the plenitude of grace and is to be the mother of the Redeemer; by Saint Elizabeth the prophesy is made that Mary shall be blessed among women, and blessed is the fruit of her womb; and the Church adds the petition to Mary to pray for us. Thus did Angel, Prophetess and Church unite in formulating for us this most simple, and most familiar of all prayers - the Hail Mary.
Ave Maria,
Gratia plena,
Dominus tecum,
Benedicta tu
In mulieribus
Et benedictus
Fructus ventris
Tui, Jesus.
Sancta Maria
Mater DEI
Ora pro nobis
Peccatoribus,
Nunc, et in hora
Mortis nostrse. Amen.
Monday - The Joyful Mysteries
Saint Michael, Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And you, Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into Hell Satan and the other evil spirits who prowl the world for the ruin of souls. Amen. – Pope Leo XIII
To thee, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of thy most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke thy patronage also. Through that charity which bound thee to the immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which thou embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg thee to graciously regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with thy power and strength to aid us in our necessities. O most watchful Guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be propitious to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness; and, as once thou rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by thy constant protection, so that, supported by thy example and thy aid, we may be able to live piously, to die holy, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.
- text taken from The Rosary Devotions for Every Day by Father Mark J Smith, SJ, International Catholic Truth Society, 1924; audio is from Rosary Army