Hail Mary, Full of Grace
October 12th Readings Reflection: Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s Gospel reading, which comprises only two verses, reads: “And it came to pass, as [H]e spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to [H]im: Blessed is the womb that bore [T]hee, and the paps that gave [T]hee suck. But [H]e said: Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it” (Lk 11:27-28 DRB). Traditionally, yesterday was the Feast of the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, so it is fitting that we should hear this Gospel reading today.
St. John Chrysostom explained that in this passage, Christ was referring to the fact that “it profited Mary nothing that Christ derived His birth from her without the inward virtue of her heart” (Catena Aurea). Our Lady heard and observed the Word of God, keeping it in her heart (see Lk 2:51). This passage, understood in light of Luke 1:28 (for Scripture interprets Scripture, as the saying goes), illustrates the importance of Marian devotion by revealing the foundation of our love and esteem for Mary.
The Ave Maria, or Hail Mary, is also called the Angelic Salutation due to the first line of the prayer: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. These are the words with which the Angel Gabriel greeted Mary at the Annunciation (see Lk 1:28). St. Thomas Aquinas pointed out that this is the first time in history that an angel greeted a mortal creature, a human being, with reverence: “[I]n olden time an Angel would not show reverence to a man, but a man would deeply revere an Angel. This is because Angels are greater than men.”
St. Thomas went on to explain that angels, by virtue of their incorruptible nature, possess a greater dignity than man, who possesses an eternal soul but a corruptible, mortal body. Furthermore, angels are closer to God, standing ever in His presence; they also possess the fullness of divine grace, which human beings only share to a certain extent, possessing the stains of Original Sin on their souls.
However, Our Lady was conceived without Original Sin and was thus full of grace (see Lk 1:28). By greeting Mary in this manner, the Angel Gabriel acknowledged that she exceeds even him in the fullness of grace, St. Thomas explained. She possesses a unique dignity whereby the Word of God became incarnate in her womb while she remained a virgin. She was thereby united to God in a singular way, physically for nine months and spiritually for the rest of eternity by keeping His Word in her heart.
Mary is the co-redemptrix and co-mediatrix, interceding on behalf of the Church and its members to her divine Son. Our Lady has promised to save the world through her Immaculate Heart, the same heart in which she keeps the Word of God. Merely being the Mother of God did not earn Mary the title of “blessed.” Rather, Mary’s great virtue and holiness, her habit of keeping the Word of God in her heart by always cooperating with God’s grace, earned her the rightful title of blessed amongst women. May we always seek to imitate the example of Our Lady and keep the Word of God in our hearts, not allowing our hearts to become deadened through mortal sin but keeping them ever alive by the presence of sanctifying grace.
Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genitrix, ut digni efficiamu promissionibus Christi. Pray for us, O Most Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Amen, beautifully said!!!!