Ever since Roger Staubach, as quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, threw a last-second touchdown pass in the early 70's and referred to it as a 'Hail Mary', that term has become commonplace in sports parlance. It occurs to me that many people do not know what this prayer actually is. Here goes. It is a short prayer that is made up of two parts. The first is based on a quotation from the bible. It is the words of the angel Gabriel to Mary announcing to her that she was the holiest of women and that she would give birth to the Messiah and call him Jesus. The second is a request that Mary intercede for us with her son. Within it is a profession that Jesus is God and that we are sinners. It goes: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.