“And he came to her and said, “Rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”” Luke 1:28
Luke 1:28 describes the Angel Gabriel’s salutation to Mary as “Rejoice so highly favored!” As Catholics, we are told this is the source of “Hail Mary, full of grace.”
In Luke 1:28 l, the angel uses the word “kecharitomene.” This word is not literally “full of grace,” but its root word is the Greek verb “to give grace” (charitoo). The word is the past perfect tense, meaning that the action of giving grace has already occurred. It was not something that was about to happen to her but something that has already been accomplished.
Even more, this word was also used as a title. The angel did not say, “Hail Mary, you are kecharitomene” but rather, “Hail kecharitomene.” Therefore the word is not simply an action but an identity.
St. Maximillian Kolbe might say this as “Hail Immaculata!” Mary, herself, even answered as this identity when St. Bernadette asked her name. Bernadette asked the parish priest to build a chapel at the grotto, as the lady had asked, he told her to ask the lady what her name was. If she was in fact the Virgin Mary, he would do anything she asked. St. Bernadette asked the lady what her name was, and she replied “I am the Immaculate Conception.”
These all go hand in hand. More show, I believe it shows how highly esteemed God thought of Mary. In Exodus 25:10-22, we see the Ark was made made of beautiful woods which were overplayed with “pure gold” and adorned with moldings of gold. It was topped with “Cherubim of gold” with wings spread out over the mercy seat.
In Luke’s Gospel, we see God Himself giving greater honor to the new ark, Mary. And, the angels honoring her with the message of God. God made His mother more adorned than the ark of the covenant. For while it was adorned with fine golds, God ‘adorned’ Mary with His grace.
On this night, as we kneel to give honor to the newborn King, let us remember to honor “Full of Grace”, “Immaculata”. She is highly favored by God the Father and Her Son, Jesus and Spouse, the Holy Spirit. We should honor her as much.
On this night, Mary looks to us with her grace and pours it out in loving abundance upon you through her Divine Son. His mercy, Divine Mercy, rains from Heaven to sanctify you and lift you up to be “full of grace”. Mary is always most favored in all creation, but she desires us to be follow her path and be sanctified. so pleasing to God is the soul that is faithful to this grace.
Mary said to St. Faustina, “”Oh, how pleasing to God is the soul that follows faithfully the inspirations of His grace! I gave the Saviour to the world; as for you, you have to speak to the world about His great mercy and prepare the world for the Second Coming of Him who will come, not as a merciful Saviour, but as a just Judge”” Divine Mercy in my soul #635
“My child. You have a special claim on My mercy. Let it act in your poor soul; let the rays of grace enter your soul; they bring with them light, warmth, and life.” Divine Mercy in my soul # 1486
Tomorrow, we celebrate the birth of the King of Mercy, Prince of Peace. Let us celebrate by giving the world the gift of His presence and message. Share Divine Mercy, this light, warmth and life, with everyone you know. Share in words, acts and prayers. Through this grace, souls will turn their hearts to God and give glory to the Merciful Savior.