The template of the Life of Christ
Before we move into the details of the Hail Mary prayer, let’s look more into how Christ centered Mary is. Jesus is not only the center of the Hail Mary, but the center of His Mother’s life. Mary's Magnificat is a prophesy of Christ's life; not just an insight into salvation history. It is good for everyone to read the Magnificat at this time (Luke 1:46-55). If you look at the stanzas you can see how the Magnificat mirrors the Life of Christ. It is an excellent and fruitful custom of the holy Church that we should sing Mary’s hymn at the time of evening prayer. By meditating upon the incarnation, our devotion is kindled, and by remembering the example of God’s Mother, we are encouraged to lead a life of virtue.[i] In one prayer we see ten of the twenty mysteries of the Rosary, fifty percent of Our Lord’s life proclaimed before He was born.
How does Mary know to say these things? Mary is the spouse of the Holy Spirit and at the Annunciation the Angel Gabriel declared, “The power of the Most High will overshadow you.” Mary is the handmaid of the Lord and through cooperation with God, the Holy Spirit speaks through her. Just after the Word becomes Flesh, within her womb, Mary, through the Holy Spirit, is already proclaiming the Word of God, the Gospel.
The first stanza is the Annunciation, where God looks with favor on his lowly servant.
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.”
The second is the Visitation, where Saint Elizabeth proclaims, “Blessed are you among women”
From this day all generations will call me blessed: The Almighty has done great things for me,
And holy is his Name.
The third to sixth stanzas are the Beatitudes, the Proclamation of the Kingdom. Mary is the perfect model of living the beatitudes. There are examples in Mary's life in each of the beatitudes. Blessed are the merciful, blessed are the poor in Spirit, blessed are the meek, blessed are those who hunger and thirst directly apply.
“He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. [Blessed are the Merciful]
He has shown the strength of his arm, He has scattered the proud in their conceit. [Blessed are the Poor in Spirit] He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, And had lifted up the lowly. [Blessed are the Meek] He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich he has sent away empty.” [Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness]
The seventh stanza is the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord. Jesus came to our aid through His Agony in the Garden, Scourging at the Pillar, Crowning of Thorns, Carrying of the Cross. It was through the Crucifixion and Resurrection that God remembered His promise of mercy. This promise of mercy is offered to the children of Abraham, which are as many as the stars in the sky and sand on the earth and it is offered for ever, perpetuated through the Institution of the Eucharist which Jesus commanded His apostles, “…do this in memory of me.”[ii]
“He has come to the help of his servant Israel For he has remembered his promise of mercy, The promise he made to our fathers, To Abraham and his children forever.”
[i] Saint Bede the Venerable; Spiritual Reading, Office of Readings, feast of the Visitation
[ii] Luke 22:19