“The Blessed Virgin had not only a real mother but also a real father, and her conception was brought about according to the human laws of generation. But at the moment that her soul was joined to her body, God - in view of the merits of Christ - filled her soul with sanctifying grace.”
Thank you for that explanation. As a Protestant I don’t believe it - but it does help me understand things better. Mary WAS surely blessed of course!
Yes, she was.
And may God send his blessings your way.
Still is; but Scripture does NOT record the things Catholicism says about her.
It DOES, however, record THIS about her cousin Elizabeth:
Luke Chapter 1 (various)
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Elisabeth and Zacharias were both righteous, AND filled with the Holy Ghost: This was NOT recorded about Mary.
Mary was blessed because of BELIEF; not Obedience.