As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed! But he said, Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!
The woman was actually complimenting Jesus, not Mary. In effect, she was saying "Your mother is so lucky to have a son like You!" Clearly, this is a compliment directed at Jesus. If a neighbor lady were to say this to you, obviously you would take it as a compliment directed at you, not your mother.
Englishman's Greek Concordance shows that the word for "rather" here, menounge (Strong's word #3304) is used four times in the NT: Lk 11:28, Rom 9:20, 10:18, and Phil 3:8. Apparently, it can mean a contrast; however, this contrast need not negate what came before it. A clear example is Phil 3:8. In Phil 3:7 Paul says (KJV):
She venerated Mary and she praised Jesus. That is the pattern in most if not all Marian prayers:
Hail Mary, full of grace Blessed art thou among women And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners Now and in the hour of our death |
The woman's prayer concentrated on the physical aspect of Mary's relationship to Jesus. That is why Jesus corrected her and offered His own prayer to His Blessed Mother: "Blessed is Mary and everyone who hears the Word and keeps It". That is the first Marian prayer. It gave us the proper form to venerate Mary for her spiritual feat and it expanded the future Church Triumphant to many saints alongside Mary.