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The Busted Halo Question Box
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This is the place where you can ask all of those burning questions that you wouldn't dare ask in person. We will post questions here (using your byline only with permission); we guarantee an answer to everyone.

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Fr. Tom Ryan
Ecumenical and interfaith
Neela Kale
Culture, ethics and Catholic basics
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General
Ann Naffziger, M.A., M.Div.
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Charles C. Camosy, PhD
Medical ethics
Caitlin Kennell Kim
Mary
  • (4)
Our readers asked:

Do we ever say the Hail Mary at Mass?

Ginny Kubitz Moyer Answers:

No, the Hail Mary is not a part of the Catholic Mass. That said, I have been to a few Masses where the priest inserts a Hail Mary at the end of his homily (this sometimes happens on Mother’s Day or on a Marian feast day). I know of no prohibitions against doing so as long as the Hail Mary does not replace one of the prayers of the Mass. Overall, though, the Hail Mary is prayed more as a private devotion or as part of the praying of the rosary.

  • (4)
The Author : Ginny Kubitz Moyer
Ginny Kubitz Moyer is the author of the award-winning book Mary and Me: Catholic Women Reflect on the Mother of God. She lives with her family in the San Francisco Bay Area and blogs at randomactsofmomness.com.
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  • Jessica-Jean

    When I was a child in Brooklyn, NY, in the 50′s, Sunday mass always ended with the recitation of three Hail Marys. I don’t remember why they had been appended, though I once did.

  • Jack Regan

    In the UK there is a tradition of always saying the Hail Mary at the end of the General Intercessions. It wasn’t until I worked oversees at the age of 23 that I realised this wasn’t a universal thing.

    Some say there is an official indult allowing this, and others say that we shouldn’t really do it, but nonetheless it’s a tradition for us.

  • mike

    Lisa, It may be and I’m glad you find it helpful, but it is not a requirement in the current or future missal. So the question of whether we say it at mass remains “no” for most places people will attend.

  • Lisa

    Our parochial administrator leads the congregation in the St. Michael prayer and one Hail Mary after each Mass ends before the recessional hymn. This is his preference for daily Masses as well. One of our priests in residence has followed his example and does the same. The parochial vicar and one other priest in residence say the St. Michael prayer alone, but our family adds the Hail Mary on our own afterwards. Reciting three Hail Marys after Mass had ended was a regular practice for the Latin Mass, and we still observe this tradition during our parish’s twice-monthly Latin Masses. I think there is a wonderful opportunity to increase devotion to the Blessed Mother by bringing back the practice. :)
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