"Open to the Spirit, Mary consecrated herself totally as lowly handmaid to the person and work of the Savior. She received Christ in order to share Him with all the world whose hope He is. In her, we recognize the model of the Church's faith and our own.." St. Eugene de Mazenod

As we celebrate Mary's Immaculate Conception, we can understand why the Angel greeted her the way he did. "Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with you." He was attesting to the great grace, privilege God had already given Mary. In lieu of Jesus' death and resurrection, Mary received the grace of salvation, freeing her from the sin of Adam and Eve. From her first moment of existence she was full of grace, sharing in God's life. This special grace was given to Mary so that she could later conceive the Son of the Most High by the power of the Holy Spirit. As her Immaculate Conception is a mystery, so is her vocation as the Mother of the Son of God in flesh. In honoring Mary, we are honoring God for his marvelous plan.