Charles Gounod was a famous French musician who lived from 1818 to 1893. He composed many pieces of music, one more beautiful than the other. The world acclaimed him a master. But Gounod himself was not satisfied. To a friend he explained what was in his heart: "When I started to compose music, it was the kind of music that is played in churches - lasting music - I like to call it."
"But, Charles," his friend reminded him, "I'm sure that your Faust will live for centuries."
"Maybe so," responded the master, "but music aligned with religion and the churches will outlast all others."
Several years later he was financially able to give himself to writing religious music. It did not pay well, but it did satisfy his desire to give something rich and lasting to the world. He turned out many hymns, but none seemed to satisfy his longing.
"One song," he used to say to himself, "one song that will be sung in churches around the world. One song that will live on long after I am forgotten."
One day an idea came. He rushed home to his piano. He played on and on, as if in a dream. But the idea slipped away as suddenly as it came.
He hurried to the church, knelt and prayed, long and earnestly, especially before the statue of our Blessed Mother. Again he went home to his piano. This time the notes came slow and hauntingly. When he put those notes on paper, they seemed to satisfy. Proudly and reverently he put the title to his composition, the two words: AVE MARIA. Gounod had written his world famous AVE MARIA, or HAIL MARY.
Just as God gave the best to Mary, so the best of music is none too good for this prayer to her, the Hail Mary, which is often called the Ave Maria, from its first two Latin words. It is called the Angelical Salutation, or the Angel's Greeting.
It is a precious prayer because it was brought from heaven by an angel, Gabriel, the messenger sent by God to tell Mary that she was to be the Mother of God. His greeting to Mary, his words to her, form the first part of the Hail Mary.
This prayer, clear and simple, short, easy to learn, and deeply devotional, gives honor to the immaculate holiness of the Virgin Mother, gives honor to her divine motherhood, gives honor to her power with the Almighty. It has been a constant practice of the Church to recite the Hail Mary after the Lord's prayer. After we have talked to the King, we go to the one next in power, His Mother. There are really three parts or divisions in this thrilling prayer:
1. The first part contains the words of Gabriel: "Hail, full of grace; the Lord is with thee."This week we should reflect on the first two parts. "Hail" or "Ave" means "peace be to thee." It was a frequent greeting in the East where Mary lived, to show a friendly disposition and a wish for happiness. It wished peace of soul, and peace and union with God. How fittingly we greet Mary in that way.
2. The second part is made up of the words of St. Elizabeth: "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb."
3. The last part was added by Christ's Church: "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death."
The word "Mary," though not used by the Angel Gabriel, was put in to show the person to whom we are talking. "Mary" is from a Hebrew name, Miriam, which means bitterness. Mary tasted the bitter cup of suffering and sorrow. In that name of Mary is a whole library of lessons. To her God revealed that the Son of God was to become Man. To her God gave the gifts of humility and obedience and spotless purity.
"Full of grace" was the first title of praise given to Mary. She had been conceived without sin, had been "full of grace" from her very conception. She is the Mother of the Author of all grace, Jesus. Through her He gives us spiritual life. Grace means favor with God. And who was more pleasing to God than the woman God chose as the Mother of His Son?
When you say, "full of grace," be sure that you are in the grace and favor of God. If not, ask her to secure that blessing for you.
"The Lord is with thee" is a frequent expression in the Bible, meaning blessings and favors. When God is with us, all is well. By His power and His love, God was with Mary. By the sacraments and virtue, God is with us.
"Blessed art thou among women." These words were uttered first by Gabriel and then by St. Elizabeth. Mary is the most honored among women, because of her Immaculate Conception, her perfection of soul and body, her overflowing grace, her perfect doing of the will of God, her role as temple of God, her dignity as Mother of the Redeemer, her position as the Mother of mankind, her Assumption into heaven, and her power as Queen of heaven and earth.
"And blessed is the fruit of thy womb." Blessed and precious, indeed, was the Child of Mary, the Son of God.
The Church added the Holy Name of Jesus, the name above all other names. Speak it with love; speak it with reverence; speak it with confidence.
The woman cried out as recorded in the Gospel of St Luke:
"Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the breasts that nourished thee."
So we cry out to our Blessed Mother, remembering that Mary's Child is truly blessed.
The great Gounod was not satisfied until he had put into fitting music not only the words, but the very meaning of the Hail Mary. In the same way, we will never be satisfied until we have put into our lives, until we have expressed with every action and thought and word, the devotion and affection of our hearts for the glorious Mother of God. Amen.
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Adapted from Prayers, Precepts and Virtues
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, 1949
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