Gratia Plena (Full of Grace)

DAILY ENLIGHTENMENT

St Pius X Roman Catholic Church, Notting Hill. Photo by Morgan Buchanan

Here is the beautiful, colorful alter-piece at St Pius X Roman Catholic Church in Notting Hill, about one hundred meters from where I live in London. As I was photographing it I was struck by the Latin inscribed to either side of Mary's statue: Ave Maria, Gratia Plena. In English we translate it as "Hail Mary, Full of Grace". She is full with grace in the sense that she carries unborn Jesus in her womb but also because she is Jesus’ mother.

For me, I liked the connotation that comes from the closest English word to "plena” which is "plenty". Plentiful, bountiful, endlessly pouring out blessings and peace. This idea is connected with another name for Mary: Stella Maris (Star of the Sea), which conjures up an image of infinite waters lit from above by a bright star.