CLAIM: Upon seeing Mary, the angel Gabriel says, “Mary, full of grace.” (Lk. 1:28; Douay-Rheims). Roman Catholic authorities claim that this supports the notion that Mary was sinless. Is this the case?

RESPONSE: Catholic expert James McCarthy argues, “The angel, however, never said that Mary was ‘full of grace’ (Luke 1:28 Douay-Rheims). This Roman Catholic translation is based on the Latin texts. Translations from the original Greek read ‘Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you’ (Luke 1:28). God favored Mary by choosing her to bear His Son, not by preserving her from Adam’s sin. God blessed Mary ‘among women’ (Luke 1:28 KJV), not above women.”^[1]