“But that an angel paid reverence to a human being had never been heard, until the moment he greeted the Holy Virgin by respectfully saying: ‘God save you,’” emphasizes the also called Angelic Doctor.
Saint Thomas explains that humans’ reverence for angels was because these beings “were superior” in three things: they are spiritual in nature and not corruptible; They have a very close relationship with the Lord; and they fully enjoy divine grace. “Therefore, it was not proper for an angel to pay reverence to a man,” he says.
However, all this changes with the Blessed Virgin Mary. For Saint Thomas, she was far superior in all these qualities to the angels. So much so that the Archangel Gabriel dared to pay tribute to her with various compliments: “God save you,” “full of grace,” “the Lord is with you.” All to imply that she was on to him.