Fullest of Grace

Oftentimes we think of Our Lady as completely perfect right out of the box, so to speak. And it’s true. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t progress in sanctity. “Wait a minute,” you’re thinking. “Didn’t the Angel Gabriel say she was ‘full of grace’ at the Annunciation?” Yes, he did. But St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that she […]

Mary’s New Name

Every time we pray a “Hail Mary,” we’re repeating the words of the Angel Gabriel. Kind of… The Angel Gabriel never says, “Hail, Mary.” Instead, he says, “Hail, full of grace” (Lk 1:28). In other words, he calls her by a new name. Just like other figures in salvation history whose name change denotes something […]

024: Part 2 – How To Explain the Immaculate Conception from the Bible

The more you understand it, the more you realize the Immaculate Conception is a fundamental part of the Gospel message. And, yes, it’s in the Bible…big time. This is part 2 of what I started in Episode 23. This episode is going to focus on the Angel Gabriel’s encounter with Mary in the Annunciation scene […]