page_title: Three Hail Marys
section_title: Revelations from the Blessed Virgin Mary
hierarchical_section_title: Three Hail Marys / Revelations from the Blessed Virgin Mary
caption_attribution_description: Español: Esta obra es una de las varias Inmaculadas pintadas por Bartolomé Esteban Murillo que se conservan en el Museo del Prado, situado en la ciudad de Madrid, (España). La Virgen María, madre de Jesucristo, aparece de medio cuerpo y con una luna creciente de plata a sus pies, mientras que a los lados de la Virgen hay seis serafines. Los colores de la túnica y del manto, junto con el pelo suelto y las manos entrecruzadas sobre su pecho ponen de manifiesto que se trata de una representación de la madre del Salvador, y la luna creciente confirma que se trata de la Inmaculada Concepción.
context_page_description: Three Hail Marys is a traditional Roman Catholic devotional practice of reciting three Hail Marys as a petition for purity and other virtues. Believers recommend that it be prayed after waking in the morning, and before going to bed, following the examination of conscience at night. This devotion has been recommended by St. Anthony of Padua, St. Alphonsus Liguori, St. John Bosco and St. Leonard of Port Maurice. Two saints, Mechtilde and Gertrude, are said to have received revelations from the Blessed Virgin Mary regarding this practice.
context_section_description: St. Mechtilde of Hackeborn (1241-1299), a Benedictine nun of the convent of Helfta, experienced three visions of the Virgin Mary. Mechtilde was distressed over her eternal salvation and prayed to the Virgin to be present at the hour of her death. In these appearances, Mary reassured her, and taught her to understand especially on how the Three Hail Marys honor the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. The first prayer recalls the power she received from the Eternal Father to intercede for sinners, the second commemorates the wisdom received from the Son; and the third, the love she bears, filled by Holy Spirit.
  According to St. Gertrude (1256–1301), the Blessed Virgin Mary promised the following: "To any soul who faithfully prays the Three Hail Marys, I will appear at the hour of death in a splendor of beauty so extraordinary that it will fill the soul with heavenly consolation." 
  
  One recommended method is as follows:
  O Mary, by thy pure and Immaculate Conception, make my body pure and my soul holy.
  Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou amongst 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.
  O my Mother, preserve me this day from mortal sin.
  Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou amongst 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.
  O my Mother, preserve me this day from mortal sin.
  Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou amongst 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.
  O my Mother, preserve me this day from mortal sin.
caption: The Immaculate Conception, by Murillo
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