St. Bonaventure assures us that whoever addresses the Virgin with the Hail Mary, will in turn be blessed by Mary with some grace. St. Bernard, who was accustomed to greet Mary whenever he saw her picture, one day heard his greeting answered with the words: "Hail Bernard."
St. Alphonse de Liguori would interrupt any activity at the sound of church bells to say the Hail Mary.
St. Catherine of Siena began at the age of five to recite as many Hail Marys as the number of steps she climbed.
St. Bernard says that heaven smiles and the angels rejoice every time the Hail Mary is said with devotion.
Cesario calls the angelical salutation the voice of triumph, and St. Ephrem terms it the hymn and canticle of angels.
-Glories and Virtues of Mary by Rev. James Alberione, SSP, STD
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