We read the following from Fulgentius of Ruspe when discussing Gabriel’s angelic greeting to Mary (“Ave, Maria, gratia plena” [Luke 1:28 Vulgate]):
Cum
dicit: Ave, salutationem illi coelestem exhibuit; cum dixit: Gratia plena,
ostendit ex integro iram exclusam primae sententiae et plenae (al., plenam)
benedictionis gratiam restitutam; cum dixit: Benedicta tu inter mulieres,
virginitatis ejus benedictum fructum expressit, ut ex eo benedicta dicatus
inter mulieres quaecunque perseveraverit virgo. Maledicta enim Eva fuerat, quam
nunc credimus per Mariam ad benedictionem gloriae remesse. Venite, virgines ad
Virginem, et laetamini; depouite maledictionem praevaricationis, et
benedictionem restaurationis assumite. (Sermon 36, in PL
65:889)
English:
When
he says: Hail, he presented him with a heavenly greeting; when he said: Grace
is full, he shows that the wrath of the first sentence was completely excluded
and the grace of full blessing restored; when he said, "Blessed art thou
among women," he expressed the blessed fruit of her virginity, so that
from it the consecrated man would be blessed among women, whosoever remained a
virgin. For Eve had been cursed, whom we now believe was remitted by Mary to
the blessing of glory. Come, virgins, to the Virgin, and rejoice; cast off the
curse of transgression, and assume the blessing of restoration.
In light of Fulgentius' other writings, he appears that he believed Mary was not conceived from original sin, but, like Bernard, Aquinas, and others, that Mary was purified/made "immaculate" around the time of the Annunciation.
