Blessed Art Thou

Catholics use the announcement of the Angel to Mary as proof of her immaculate conception.

Their proof is really just an inference based upon Grace before the conception of Christ.

After the announcement Mary's cousin Elizabeth said

Luk 1:42  And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

From this Catholics make many inferences that aren't in scripture. Such as praying to Mary and worshipping her.

Most people don't realize that another woman was given the same blessing in the Old Testament.

Jdg 5:24  Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.

The idea of being blessed does not imply the immaculate conception nor does it imply we should worship Mary, but it does imply she will be honored in history. Among all women she would be famous.

If it implied something at her conception the woman of the Old Testament would need to be immaculately conceived as well.

Jael was not worshipped, nor was a rosary prayed in her behalf.