Question
Question
I was visiting a parish that ended the petitions with the priest saying "We ask this and all our intercessions through Mary, 'Hail Mary, full of grace...'" I have not found any thing in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal that allows this. Is this a new practice?
--Wondering in Wichita
Answer
Answer
It is new at this church! It is not acceptable to replace the Trinitarian or Christological formula at the end of the intercessions with the "Hail, Mary." Replacing such formulas is not consistent with Catholic liturgical or doctrinal tradition and gives the impression that Mary is the mediatrix or coredemptrix of prayer. Mary plays an important role in salvation history. Her prayer does not have a role at this point in the Eucharist.