Philippine Catholic Bishops Update ‘Hail Mary’ Prayer in Filipino

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has recently endorsed a new Filipino translation of the ‘Hail Mary’ prayer. According to Msgr. Bernardo Pantin, the CBCP’s secretary general, this updated version aims to provide a more precise and faithful rendition of the original Latin text, without replacing the existing Tagalog version, ‘Aba Ginoong Maria.’ Pantin emphasized that the new translation is designed to be more relevant and adaptable to modern times, enhancing the understanding and appreciation of its deep biblical and theological roots. The revised ‘Ave Maria’ was officially approved during the CBCP’s plenary assembly in January. The CBCP highlighted that the changes were made with considerations such as biblical accuracy, simplicity, a sense of prayerfulness, adaptability to current societal contexts, and a commitment to unity through synodality. This revision comes as the Catholic Church prepares for the Jubilee Year of 2025 and coincides with the 50th anniversary of the CBCP’s pastoral letter on the Blessed Virgin Mary, released on February 2, 1975.