Of Mary, the Greek word [Lk 1:28] is kexaritomena (highly favored), of Christ (and Stephen) the Greek phrase [Jn 1:14 and Acts 6:8] is plaras karitos (full of grace).Let me preface my remarks by saying that my computer is broken and I was reduced earlier to pecking out a reply on my blackberry. Having said that, I spent well over an hour trying to reply via blackberry, only to have it wiped out before I could even finish my reply, never mind post it. Since then, I've found a public computer to use, but I am still frustrated by my earlier experience, so please forgive me if my reply is not as thorough as I would like.
So now I am totally confused. Are you agreeing with Catholic theology or not? Kinsman’s responses made me think you do not.
I recently learned that this Greek word is a hapax legomenon, since there are no examples of its use in literature prior to the Annunciation.
Chaire kecharitomene. "Hail, Full of Grace," we translate it. In Latin, following the venerable St. Jerome's translation known as the Vulgate, it is Ave, gratia plena.Anyway, your post got me googling, and I found this in one of John Paul II 's addresses.The word that Luke uses--κεχαριτωμένη, kecharitomene--appears to have been crafted out of thin air, appearing into the Greek vocabulary as unexpectedly as the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and as silently as the Word became Flesh. It was the word for the moment.
The word is used nowhere else in the Scriptures or in secular Greek literature. The technical name for such a novel, unique word is hapax legomenon. Hapax legomenon--which comes to us from Greek--means "expressed once."
This sort of word is sometimes also referred to as a nonce word. In this case, it is a one-of-a-kind word for a one-of-a-kind person in a one-of-a-kind situation. No one else in human history is κεχαριτωμένη (kecharitomene).
Though a nonce word, it is not nonsensical. Grammatically, the word kecharitomene is the feminine present perfect passive voice participle of a verb, specifically, the Greek verb χαριτόω (charitóō). In the passive voice, the verb means to have been made graceful, to have been endowed with grace.
The Greek verb charitóō is itself a little scarce in Scripture. Other than its unusual form in Luke 1:28, it is used by St. Paul in his epistle to the Ephesians. Here we read St. Paul use it for the redeemed sinner: "for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted (ἐχαρίτωσεν, echaristōsen) us in the beloved."
Here, the word charitóō is in what is known as its aorist active indicative form, obviously an entirely different form from Luke 1:28. So though the root verb (charitóō) is the same in Luke 1:28 and Ephesians 1:6, the words are used in entirely different tenses, voices, and senses. The only commonality, it seems, is sanctifying grace.
BLESSED VIRGIN WAS FILLED WITH GODS GRACE
Pope John Paul II...The expression "full of grace" is the translation of the Greek word kecharitoméne, which is a passive participle. Therefore to render more exactly the nuance of the Greek word one should not say merely "full of grace", but "made full of grace", or even "filled with grace", which would clearly indicate that this was a gift given by God to the Blessed Virgin. This term, in the form of a perfect participle, enhances the image of a perfect and lasting grace which implies fullness. The same verb, in the sense of "to bestow grace", is used in the Letter to the Ephesians to indicate the abundance of grace granted to us by the Father in his beloved Son (Eph 1:6), and which Mary receives as the first fruits of Redemption (cf. Redemptoris Mater, n. 10).
Excellent post. Thanks!
Your remark re. the Garden and Mary reminds me of the contrasts we
Find in 1 Cor 15:45 ff. and Rom 5:12.
Now, may I ask you to declare: What efficacy is there in intercessory prayer - other that through Jesus Christ?
I hope your computer problems are in the past because I look forward to your reply.
In His grace,
KR