“And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women” (King James Bible, Luke 1:28)

Highly favoured indeed, for Our Lady had been created by God to fulfil the most sublime task that has ever been entrusted – or indeed could ever be entrusted to a human being – to be the Mother of his Divine Son, to be the Mother of God.

As her office was unique so also was her preparation for it.  At the first moment of her creation she was exempted and preserved from every trace of that sinful taint which is our unhappy human heritage.  By that miraculous intervention of God, Our Blessed Lord was enabled to be born of one who was all pure and all fair.  Thus the spotless Creator was born of the spotless Virgin.