"Without introducing himself [to Mary], the Angel can therefore begin immediately with his greeting: ‘Hail, full of grace.’ In this first form of greeting, he immediately gives her the title that is due to her, as he has no doubt that she will accept everything. Without having said it, with her demeanour and her constant expectation of the path reserved for her by God, Mary has already said her yes. The angel can therefore continue: ‘The Lord is with you!’ She has not yet conceived the Lord, but he is already with her because he has chosen her as his Mother, and with the same certainty with which the angel now addresses his announcement to her, the Lord also knew that she would accept everything, even to have him as her Son."
January 1, 1970