God's love for you - 12th May
The Virtues of Mary - Humility
Humility is the foundation and guardian of the virtues, because a soul cannot possess other virtues without humility. The world does not know it at first, but Jesus Himself came to teach it by His example, He told us: "Learn of me, because I am meek and humble of heart." Mary was the first and most perfect disciple of Jesus Christ in all the virtues, and humility was the first virtue which she especially practised from childhood. Mary always thought so lowly of herself, remembering that all was God's gift; she also refused praises, and gave them all back to God, like in the Annunciation and the Visitation. Out of humility, Mary concealed the gifts of heaven thus did not tell St Joseph that she became the mother of God. Despite being pregnant, Mary still went and served Elizabeth for three months partly due to humility. Mary's humbleness also caused her to retire and choose the lowest place; like when she wished to speak with Jesus while He was preaching in a house, she waited outside until invited; and she took the lowest place when she was in the "upper room" with the apostles. Finally, the humble one loves contempt; as Mary did not appear on Palm Sunday when Jesus received so much honour, instead she appeared in public on Calvary and did not shrink from fear of the shame of being known as the mother of a criminal who was condemned to an infamous death. Indeed, humility is not easy to practise, but if we are not humble, we can never be the true children of Mary. Oh, how dear is a humble soul to Mary! St Bernard wrote: "The Virgin recognizes and loves those who love her, and she is near to all who invoke her, especially to those whom she sees like herself in chastity and humility. Emulate this virtue if you love Mary."
(Source: St Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary, P J Kenedy & Sons, 1888)
