The 152 Hail Mary Novena - When You Have a Special Intention to Place in Our Lady's Hands
Is there something weighing heavily on your heart?
Perhaps you are praying for a conversion, healing, your marriage, a child, financial help, employment, protection, or a situation that seems impossible.
The 152 Hail Mary Novena is a beautiful devotion for bringing a serious intention to the Blessed Virgin Mary and asking her to carry it to her Divine Son.
It is a prayer of perseverance, confidence, and surrender.
When you do not know what else to say, sometimes the simplest thing is to keep repeating the words of the Angel Gabriel:
“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.”
Why 152 Hail Marys?
The devotion consists of praying 152 Hail Marys, traditionally connected with the number of Psalms once counted in certain forms of the Psalter tradition and with the longstanding Catholic practice of honoring Our Lady through a “Psalter” of repeated Angelic Salutations.
The important thing, however, is not simply reaching a number.
Prayer is not a formula.
Every Hail Mary is another opportunity to place your intention before God while asking His Blessed Mother:
“Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.”
What Can You Pray For?
Bring Our Lady whatever is on your heart:
A seemingly impossible intention
The conversion of someone you love
A child who has left the Faith
Healing from illness
A troubled marriage
Family reconciliation
Pregnancy or the gift of a child
Employment
Financial difficulties
Protection for your family
Freedom from a persistent temptation
A vocation
Guidance in an important decision
A loved one approaching death
The Holy Souls in Purgatory
Greater trust in God's will
You can also offer the novena simply in thanksgiving for a grace already received.
How to Pray the 152 Hail Mary Novena
Begin by making the Sign of the Cross.
Place your intention before Our Lady:
“Blessed Mother, I place this intention into thy hands and ask thee to present it to thy Divine Son.”
[Mention your intention.]
Then pray the 152 Hail Marys, keeping your intention in your heart.
You may pray them all at once or, depending upon the form of the devotion you are following, divide them throughout the day.
Do not rush simply to finish.
Allow the repetition to quiet your heart.
With each Hail Mary, imagine yourself handing the problem back to Our Lady.
Hail Mary.
“I give this to thee.”
Hail Mary.
“I trust thy Son.”
Hail Mary.
“I will not give up.”
When You Become Tired of Praying
There may come a point when your mind wanders.
You may become tired.
You may wonder whether repeating another Hail Mary can possibly make a difference.
Continue.
Not because the number itself has some magical power, but because perseverance in prayer is an act of faith.
Our Lord Himself taught us to persevere in prayer and not lose heart.
Sometimes we begin a devotion asking God to change a situation.
By the end, we discover that He has also been changing our hearts.
Prayer Before the 152 Hail Marys
O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and my Mother,
I come before thee with confidence and place my intention into thy Immaculate Heart.
[Mention your intention.]
I do not know how this situation will be resolved.
I do not know when the answer will come.
But I know that thy Divine Son loves me and that nothing is impossible to God.
As I offer these Hail Marys,
present my petition to Jesus.
If what I ask is according to His holy will,
obtain this grace for me.
If He desires something different,
obtain for me the humility and confidence to accept His answer.
Above all, bring me closer to Jesus.
Our Lady, pray for me and never permit me to lose confidence in God. Amen.
Testimonies & Answered Prayers
Devotions centered upon repeated Hail Marys have been cherished by Catholics for generations, and people often share stories of unexpected help after placing difficult intentions in Our Lady's hands.
Some speak of reconciliations.
Others of conversions.
Some of doors opening after long periods of waiting.
Others of healing, employment, financial help, or protection during difficult circumstances.
And sometimes the answer is quieter:
peace.
Nothing outside has changed yet, but the person praying suddenly finds the strength to stop being afraid.
Personal testimonies can encourage us, but they are not guarantees that a particular devotion will produce a particular result.
Our Lady does not replace God.
She takes us to Him.
Don't Pray Only for the Miracle
Ask for the miracle.
But also ask for something greater.
“Blessed Mother, make me holy through this.”
If the answer comes immediately, thank God.
If the answer takes time, keep trusting.
If God's answer is different from yours, ask for the grace to accept it.
The greatest fruit of any Marian devotion should always be a deeper love for Jesus Christ.
When You Finish
Do not immediately rush away.
Take a moment and say:
“Blessed Mother, I have given this intention to thee. I entrust it now to Jesus. Help me to stop taking it back through fear and worry. May God's holy will be done. Amen.”
Then give thanks.
Even if you cannot yet see the answer.
A Hail Mary at a Time
Some problems seem enormous when we look at them all at once.
So don't carry tomorrow today.
Pick up your beads.
Begin with one prayer.
Then another.
Then another.
One Hail Mary at a time.
You may begin the devotion with a heart filled with fear and finish it with the same unanswered question—but with a heart that has learned to trust.
And that itself can be a tremendous grace.
Blessed Mother, take our intentions to Jesus.
Our Lady, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
