Hail Mary--It's not a footbal play

Flipping through the channels the other night I paused on the Catholic channel where Sister Angelica, the elderly, sweet faced, soft voiced nun you can see other times of the broadcast day giving various teachings on sundry catholic matters. She was reciting what is called the “Hail Mary” with the rest of the sisters parroting it back endlessly repeating it over and over and over again. Hearts in the right place, I thought, but so misdirected. How clear does Jesus need to be when he says, “"And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.” Matthew 6:7

The prayer says, "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."

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia the prayer is an “invocation of the most holy Mother of God, thereby implying that we should piously and suppliantly have recourse to her in order that by her intercession she may reconcile God with us sinners and obtain for us the blessing we need both for this present life and for the life which has no end."

Did you follow that? Mary is believed to intercede on our behalf so that we might be reconciled to God to obtain the blessing we need both in this life and the life to come.

With all due to respect, this is a serious problem. Because Jesus alone is our mediator “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, per 1 Tim. 2:5 and Jesus alone “is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” says Hebrews 7:25.

This holy week, remember “Jesus paid it all, all to whom I owe, sin had left a crimson stain; He washed it white as snow.”