A Simple but Powerful Devotion for Everyone!
As Catholics, we have so many beautiful devotions. But this one is so simple yet so powerful and so easy to do. It can calm your soul before you sleep, and have you feeling strong and ready for your day after you wake! Devotion to the Blessed Mother is one of the greatest means of salvation and one of the surest signs of predestination. The important aspect is to practice this devotion faithfully every day. The three Hail Marys Devotion draws special graces, during life and at the hour of death, on those who never omit it for a single day. A wonderful combination with this is the Scapular which should be worn daily.
St. Melchtilde
This practice was revealed to St. Melchtilde in the 13th century while she was asking The Blessed Mother to assist her in her hour of death.
Our Lady appeared to her and said:
"I will, certainly. But I also want you to say three special Hail Marys to me every day. The first Hail Mary will be in honor of God the Father, Whose omnipotence raised my soul so high above every other creature that after God I have the greatest power in heaven and on earth. In the hour of your death, I will use that power of God the Father to keep any hostile power far from you. The second Hail Mary will be said in honor of the Son of God Who communicated His inscrutable wisdom to me. In the hour of your death, I will fill your soul with the light of that wisdom so that all the darkness of ignorance and error will be dispelled. The third Hail Mary will be in honor of God the Holy Ghost Who filled my soul with the sweetness of His love and tenderness and mercy. In your last hour, I will then change the bitterness of death into divine sweetness and delight."
St. Gertrude the Greate
Our Blessed Mother also revealed to St. Gertrude the Great:
"To any soul who faithfully prays the Three Hail Marys, I will appear at the hour of death in a splendor so extraordinary that it will fill the soul with heavenly consolation." (see the Novena below)
St. Leonard
St. Leonard of Port Maurice had the Three Hail Marys chaplet recited morning and evening in honor of Mary Immaculate, to obtain the grace of avoiding all mortal sins during the day or night. He promised in a special manner eternal salvation to all those who had constant faithfulness to this daily practice. He gave this devotion of Three Hail Marys as a penance in the confessional, especially for those who were struggling with sins of impurity.
Other Saints
In addition to St. Leonard, many saints have practiced and recommended the devotion of the "Three Hail Mary", such as St. Bonaventure, St. John Berchmans, St. John Baptist Mary Vianney, St. Stanislaus, St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, St. John Joseph of the Cross, St. John Baptist de Rossi, St. Gerard Majella, St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, Blessed Marcellinus Champagnat, St. Alphonsus Liguori, St. Gemma Galgani, and St. Josemaría Escrivá.
Pope St. Pius X and Pope Benedict XV
Pope St. Pius X gave his Apostolic Blessing to this practice and the devotion was raised to an Archconfraternity by Pope Benedict XV.
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How To Pray The 3 Hail Mary Chaplet:
Pray this chaplet each morning when you awake, and each evening before you sleep.
Holding the crucifix, perform the sign of the cross.
On each of the three beads, pray the Hail Mary prayer in honor of the three great privileges bestowed upon Our Blessed Mother by the most Blessed Trinity:
"Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee. Blessed art 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."
And then at the end of the three Hail Marys, say:
"By thy pure and Immaculate Conception, O Mary, make my body pure and my soul holy. Amen"
The Three Hail Mary Novena - Power, Wisdom, and Mercy
There is also a beautiful novena that can be done with this same 3 Hail Mary Chaplet.
Our Blessed Mother promised to Saint Gertude 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." This novena honors the three special gifts given to Our Lady by God: power, wisdom, and mercy.
It is recommended to be prayed daily as a perpetual novena.
THE EFFICACIOUS 3 HAIL MARY NOVENA (prayer text)
1. In honor of Our Lady's power: Oh, Immaculate Mary, Virgin most powerful, I beseech thee, through that immense power which thou hast received from the Eternal Father, obtain for me purity of heart, strength to overcome all the enemies of my soul, and the special favor I implore in my present necessity. Mother most pure! Forsake me not, despise not my prayer, graciously hear me for God’s glory, thy honor, and the welfare of my soul.
To obtain this favor I honor thy power by reciting:
Hail Mary...
2. In honor of Our Lady's wisdom: Oh Virgin Mary, my Mother, through that ineffable wisdom bestowed upon thee by the Incarnate Word of God, I humbly beseech thee, obtain for me meekness and humility of heart, a perfect knowledge of the Divine Will, and strength to accomplish it always. Oh Mary, Seat of Wisdom; as a tender Mother lead me in the path of Christian virtue and perfection; enlighten and enable me to do what is most pleasing to thy beloved Son and obtain my petition.
To obtain this favor I honor thy power by reciting:
Hail Mary...
3. In honor of Our Lady's mercy: Oh, Mother of Mercy, Mother of penitent sinners, I stand before thee sinful and sorrowful, beseeching thee through the immense Love given to thee by the Holy Spirit for us poor sinners, obtain for me true and perfect contrition for my sins, which I hate and detest with all my heart, because I love God. Mother most merciful, help me in my present necessity. Turn, then those eyes of mercy toward us, oh clement, oh loving, oh sweet Virgin Mary!
To obtain this favor I honor thy power by reciting:
Hail Mary...
