Of Cristes mooder, hadde he in usage,
As hym was taught, to knele adoun and seye
His Ave Marie, as he goth by the weye.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Prioress’ Tale. The Prioress in her tale presents Christians as guileless children. Here we have the angelic seven-year-old widow’s son devoted to his faith and who recite his Hail Mary, a prayer giving praise to the Virgin Mary.