Blessed meaning

[Fatima-Crusader]

When Mary is called Blessed by Elizabeth, what does it mean and does it imply venaration?

 

[Fauken]

From Haydock’s Commentary:

" Ver. 42. In the same words she is pronounced blessed by Elizabeth, and by the angel Gabriel, both inspired by the Holy Ghost, and this not only to the praise of Jesus, but for his sake, to the praise of Mary, calling her blessed, and her fruit blessed; and thus, as Ven. Bede asserts, holding her up to the veneration of both men and angels."

And Catena Aurea:

“AMBROSE; She who had hid herself because she conceived a son, began to glory that she carried in her womb a prophet, and she who had before blushed, now gives her blessing; as it follows, And she spoke out with a loud voice, Blessed are you among women. With a loud voice she exclaimed when she perceived the Lord’s coming, for she believed it to be a holy birth. But she says, Blessed are you among women. For none was ever partaker of such grace or could be, since of the one Divine seed, there is one only parent.”

 

[De_Maria]

I believe it does.

Blessed, basically means, “happy”. It is used in terms of “receiving grace from God”. However, it is confusing to me when it is used with reference to God, “blessed be God”.

Psalm 72:18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel

I think, in that case, it means that God is worthy of all praise by man.

Anyway, back to St. Elizabeth. She is exclaiming that Mary has received an awesome grace, which is unheard of in human history. She is carrying God in her womb.

Luke 1:41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, 42 cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

As a result, St. Elizabeth realizes what that makes Mary, " mother of my Lord" and thus, Queen of Heaven."

So, yes, it is veneration.