17. Why ten Hail Marys and only one Our Father in each decade of the Rosary?

This question has the implication that if we say ten Hail Marys to one our Father, then we must be honoring Mary ten times as much as God! First, the heart of the Rosary is not the vocal prayers, but the meditation on the mysteries of the Rosary.

And these mysteries focus upon Jesus Christ. Second, the Hail Mary itself focuses on Mary's relationship to Christ. The first part comes directly from the Bible (the words addressed to Mary by Gabriel and Elizabeth) and the second part asks Mary to pray for us to God. We honor Mary because she is the Mother of Jesus Christ and because she will bring us closer to Jesus.