Κεχαριτωμένη is rare in profane Greek, but fairly frequently
attested in biblical Greek. The Vulgate translation gratia plena (“full of grace”) is deceptive, because the word in
Luke alludes to God’s favor, not to the grace that makes humans holy. Mary is
first addressed by name in the angel’s second speech (v. 30). Like Gideon long
ago (Judg 6:12), she receives here a divinely appointed, salvation-historical
address. God has already expressed his favor to her in the mere fact of his
visit. (François Bovon, Luke
1: A Commentary on the Gospel of Luke 1:1–9:50 [trans. Christine M. Thomas;
Hermeneia—a Critical and Historical Commentary on the Bible [Minneapolis:
Fortress Press, 2002], 50)
