Though not the desire of God (1 Corinthians 1:10; 14:33), confusion often runs rampant within "Christendom." There are several unfortunate common reasons for this religious confusion, amongst them being the forcing of preconceived theological conclusions and practices upon single statements in scripture at the cost of ignoring its contextual setting.
For example, when Gabriel initially greeted Mary, the mother of Jesus, the greeting left Mary confused. Through time, Mary would come to understand the greeting. Unfortunately, though much more time has passed, many in "Christendom" are more confused than Mary about Gabriel’s greeting. Note how (especially the emphasized portion) the Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition translates Luke 1:26-31:
“26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. 31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.” (Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
A misunderstanding of Gabriel’s greeting in Luke 1:28 (which is translated "highly favored" or "much graced" or "favored" in the overwhelming majority of English translations, including the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition) and what it means to be "full of grace" is based more upon doctrinal confusion concerning Mary than contextual confusion. Sadly, amongst numerous other errors, this confusion has led to Mary being lauded as the bride of God, viewed as sinless, referenced as the co-redeemer of mankind, and treated as a mediatrix in Heaven. These understandings come at the cost of the context of Gabriel’s greeting.
Gabriel’s greeting was not about Mary’s conception – it was about the one who would be conceived within her womb. It was not Mary’s birth that would change how God would use her or how the world would see her – it was Jesus’ birth! Gabriel’s explanation shows Mary received God’s grace in the sense of being "highly favored" amongst the women of the Earth – not that Mary was "full of grace" in the sense that God’s grace was something she would bestow upon others from Heaven.
If the religious world would seek to maintain the desired unity of Jesus (John 17:20-21), we would do well by spending less time considering the words of "Ave Maria" and spending more time considering the words of the only one who is able to give to others the same grace he himself embodied.
“14 Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father. 15 John testified about him and shouted out, “This one was the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’” 16 For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:14-17)
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