The Ave Maria, also known as the Hail Mary, is a Catholic prayer with a history rooted in biblical passages and centuries of tradition.
The prayer's first two parts are based on the Gospel of Luke, specifically the Angel Gabriel's greeting to Mary and Elizabeth's greeting to her. The third and final part, a petitionary plea to Mary, developed later, likely in the 15th century, and was solidified in the Roman Breviary of 1568. The prayer is widely used by Christians, especially Catholics, both privately and publicly, and has been adapted into various musical forms, most famously by Franz Schubert.
The Ave Maria is a prayer of praise and supplication, acknowledging Mary's role as the Mother of God and seeking her intercession with God. It is a central prayer in Catholic devotion and is often used in various liturgical and personal setting