The Hail Mary of a Protestant (A true story)

A little six-year-old Protestant boy had often heard his Catholic companions reciting the prayer “Hail Mary.” He liked it so much that he copied it, memorized it and would recite it every day. “Look, Mommy, what a beautiful prayer,” he said to his mother one day.
“Never again say it,” answered the mother. “It is a superstitious prayer of Catholics who adore idols and think Mary a goddess. After all, she is a woman like any other. Come on, take this Bible and read it. It contains everything that we are bound to do and have to do.” From that day on the little boy discontinued his daily “Hail Mary” and gave himself more time to reading the Bible instead.

One day, while reading the Gospel, he came across the passage about the Annunciation of the Angel to Our Lady. Full of joy, the little boy ran to his mother and said: “Mommy, I have found the ‘Hail Mary’ in the Bible which says: ‘Hail full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women.’ Why do you call it a superstitious prayer?”

On another occasion he found that beautiful Salutation of St. Elizabeth to the Virgin Mary and the wonderful canticle MAGNIFICAT in which Mary foretold that “the generations would call her blessed.”

He said no more about it to his mother but started to recite the “Hail Mary” every day as before. He felt pleasure in addressing those charming words to the Mother of Jesus, our Savior.

When he was fourteen, he one day heard a discussion on Our Lady among the members of his family. Every one said that Mary was a common woman like any other woman. The boy, after listening to their erroneous reasoning could not bear it any longer, and full of indignation, he interrupted them, saying:

“Mary is not like any other children of Adam, stained with sin. No! The Angel called her FULL OF GRACE AND BLESSED AMONGST WOMEN. Mary is the Mother of Jesus Christ and consequently Mother of God. There is no higher dignity to which a creature can be raised. The Gospel says that the generations will proclaim her blessed and you are trying to despise her and look down on her. Your spirit is not the spirit of the Gospel or of the Bible which you proclaim to be the foundation of the Christian religion.”

So deep was the impression which the boy’s talk had made that his mother many times cried out sorrowfully: “Oh my God! I fear that this son of mine will one day join the Catholic religion, the religion of Popes!” And indeed, not very long afterwards, having made a serious study of both Protestantism and Catholicism, the boy found the latter to be the only true religion and embraced it and became one of its most ardent apostles.

Some time after his conversion, he met his married sister who rebuked him and said indignantly: “You little know how much I love my children. Should any one of them desire to become a Catholic, I would sooner pierce his heart with a dagger than allow him to embrace the religion of the Popes!”

Her anger and temper were as furious as those of St. Paul before his conversion. However, she would change her ways, just as St. Paul did on his way to Damascus. It so happened that one of her sons fell dangerously ill and the doctors gave up hope of recovery. Her brother then approached her and spoke to her affectionately, saying:

“My dear sister, you naturally wish to have your child cured. Very well, then, do what I ask you to do. Follow me, let us pray one ‘Hail Mary’ and promise God that, if your son recovers his health, you would seriously study the Catholic doctrine, and should you come to the conclusion that Catholicism is the only true religion, you would embrace it no matter what the sacrifices may be.”

His sister was somewhat reluctant at the beginning, but as she wished for her son’s recovery, she accepted her brother’s proposal and recited the “Hail Mary” together with him. The next day her son was completely cured. The mother fulfilled her promise and she studied the Catholic doctrine. After long preparation she received Baptism together with her whole family, thanking her brother for being an apostle to her.

The story was related during a sermon given by the Rev. Fr. Tuckwell. “Brethren,” he went on and said, “the boy who became a Catholic and converted his sister to Catholicism dedicated his whole life to the service of God. He is the priest who is speaking to you now! What I am I owe to Our Lady. You, too, my dear brethren, be entirely dedicated also to Our Lady and never let a day pass without saying the beautiful prayer, ‘Hail Mary’, and your Rosary. Ask her to enlighten the minds of Protestants who are separated from the true Church of Christ founded on the Rock (Peter) and ‘against whom the gates of hell shall never prevail.'”

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16 Responses to The Hail Mary of a Protestant (A true story)

  1. David Sikuku Wabwile says:

    The above story is very true and I know it to be true to the core of my heart. It is regretable and unfortunate that our separated brethrens (Protestants) do not know this. Let us keep praying for them that by God’s grace, the mist in their minds may dissipate so that they may know the truth and be set free.

    • Geoff Heggadon says:

      Thank you David. Much of what holds our brothers and sisters away from Rome are myths created during the time of the Reformation. If one goes back to the teachings of the first Christians, the Early Church Fathers as they are known, then you realise that they believed just what the Catholic Church teaches today. The core of Catholic teaching has not changes in 2,000 years. God bless

  2. john unekwu-ojo merry says:

    Ave Maria. Catholicism till i die.

  3. Mario López says:

    Most of the Protestant brothers and sisters that have converted to Catholisism have done it by two different means: the Holy Communion and through are Blessed Mother Mary. They have become more fervent Catholics than most of us. I’m a Catholic by conviction not by tradition. I really do think this is the Church founded by Jesus himself. Read the book of Romans, Chapter 10: 9-10 and you’ll see my point of view.

    • Geoff Heggadon says:

      I am an ex Protestant who converted to the Catholic faith. I came after Mary, our Mother attracted me. However, I had some obstacles to overcome and I did this by reading the teachings of the Early Church Fathers. I discovered that the early Church was as the Catholic Church today, all the same beliefs, and I knew I was home, to the Church founded by Christ.

    • Paula says:

      I find that most converts to Catholism are much more fervent, faith filled and excited about The Church! My mother was a convert from Anglican (in the u.s., the closest would be episcopal ) She loved Our Lady soooo much as Our Faith. I only wish I had as much faith in the tip of my baby finger as she had in life, and I have no doubt that she is regoicing in heaven with the angels and saints honoring and celebrating Our Lord Jesus Christ and Holy Mother Mary!

      • Geoff Heggadon says:

        Yes, I think you are right. I think the reason is because these people come to the fullness of truth later in life when they have the capacity to understand it fully and it is fresh and exciting for them. Some who are raised in the faith tend to take it for granted and often do not search for deeper truths than what they have been raised with. There has also been some bad Catechism taught in the past, but I believe things are improving now. I am also a convert from the Anglican faith. God bless Geoff

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