We reflect on the first line of the Hail Mary and how it reveals Mary’s unique relationship with God. The church reminds us that she is the first and the greatest disciple because she always shows us the way to Christ.

As we begin this month of Mary and pray the Hail Mary, let’s remember to look to her as a sign pointing us back to Christ.

Jolt of Faith – full text
Jolt of Faith: 5/1/25 – Reflecting on the Hail Mary

During this month of May, for the Jolt of Faith, we’re gonna break down the prayers we all know pretty well – of the Hail Mary. It’s not only prayers that were just mindlessly meant to say, but they contain and remind us of important truths of our faith. So for this first week,

I’m gonna concentrate on the first line of the  Hail Mary. “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” Comes from the gospel of Luke. It is the words that the archangel Gabriel greeted at Mary with.And they’re important words because they tell us some important things about Mary.She is full of grace. The church uses that scripture quotation as proof of the immaculate conception.As in the very first moment of her conception, Mary was conceived without sin, so she be could become the mother of God.Gabriel recognizes that in her greets her, but there’s powerful words recognizing that absence of sin, that fullness of grace.

And his second, line to the greeting, “the Lord is with you.” Again, it reminds us and affirms Mary’s unique relationship with God is the one that’s conceived without sin full of grace and filled with the Lord.Now as we begin the month of May, that’s good to remember about our blessed lady.That’s why she’s such a great role model. Because while we may not be free from sin, and sadly may not always be full of grace, Mary can show us how to get back on track ,help the Lord be with us as well.

And that’s why the church reminds us that she is the first and the greatest disciple because she always shows us the way to Christ. As we begin this month of Mary and pray that Hail Mary,l et’s remember to use Mary as that directional sign to get us back towards Christ.Not a sermon, not a homily, but just that little Jolt of Faith.