✦ History & Origin
The Hail Mary is composed of three parts. The first part is the Angel Gabriel's greeting to Mary during the Annunciation. The second part is Elizabeth's greeting to Mary during the Visitation. The third part is the petition added by the Church in the Middle Ages during times of crisis and plague, asking for Mary's intercession.
✦ Historical Insights & Trivia
The first part of the prayer was used in liturgical chant as early as the 6th century.
The complete version with the petition was officially included in the Roman Breviary by Pope Pius V in 1568.
It is the central prayer of the Holy Rosary, meditating on the mysteries of Christ.