Having given ourselves to the contemplation of Jesus and Mary in the Rosary, let us now apply ourselves to gathering the fruits of these divine mysteries.Having given ourselves to the contemplation of Jesus and Mary in the Rosary, let us now apply ourselves to gathering the fruits of these divine mysteries.
The Annunciation, in bringing to our minds the annihilation of the Word of God and the modest attitude of the Most Holy Virgin in presence of the homage given and the honors promised to Her, presents to our minds the virtue of humility as its practical fruit.
To make one's self little, to put one's self down even to the ground (ad humum), is the process energetically expressed by the word Humility. The desire to rise above all and to surpass all is the movement of the heart no less energetically expressed by the word Pride - superbia. Both in heaven and on earth pride has been the fatal principle of all ruin, of all corruption; humility is the principle of salvation, the corner-stone of our perfection. By Her purity Mary was pleasing to God; by Her humility she attracted the uncreated Word to Her chaste womb. The Word offered Himself from all eternity to His Father for love of us; but it was by humbling Himself He commenced effectually the work of our salvation. Mary is the most beautiful of creatures; but She teaches us Herself that humility is the cause of Her greatness: "For it was because He regarded the humility of His handmaid" that She became the Mother of God. "Jesus is crowned with glory and honor, and invested with royal power over all the works of God"; but it is because "God has made Him a little less than the angels." (Psalm 8)
This is the order and design of Eternal Wisdom. "God resists the proud and gives His grace to the humble" (James 4:6). And in the Magnificat the Blessed Virgin again says: "He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart; He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and He hath exalted the humble." It was indeed well-pleasing to this great God to employ His omnipotence about our nothingness. Now, humility makes us draw near to nothingness; it creates in the human soul a mysterious emptiness which the divine goodness hastens to fill.
Nothing is more agreeable to God than this virtue; nothing more amiable among men. The humble man, thinking himself the least of all, envies no one and puts himself at the service of all. The humble man, in ignoring himself, makes little of no one, restrains no one in his rights, clashes with no one, bears umbrage to no one. The humble man, casting a discreet veil over his virtues and merits, does not hold them out as a lesson for any one; but, just because he hides them, they are sought for that their saving perfume may be inhaled. The humble man is sweet of heart, imitating herein the life of Him who invited all "to learn of Him, because He was meek and humble of heart." Behold what humility is!
What relation do we bear to this fundamental virtue of the Christian life? Perhaps we have not reached its first degree, which consists in the sincere conviction that everything we possess of good comes to us from God. If we miserably puff up ourselves so as to be unwilling to see anything above ourselves, what vanity! How many secret glances of delight we cast upon our little perfections! How many agreeable excuses are made for our imperfections and faults! How many deceptive and false comparisons we make! What unjust preferences we entertain! What ridiculous admiration we give way to! With how many interior adulations we delight ourselves! Finally, how many reasons do we give to God to withdraw Himself from us!
Let us enter into ourselves and beg of Jesus and Mary to put us on the pathway of true humility.
To refer to God and give Him homage for all the good in us is the first step in this pathway.
Not to take to heart the comparisons which our self-lore turns to our advantage; not to be disturbed in regard to the gifts possessed by others, and ever to put ourselves tranquilly in our own place - this is the second step.
To be well acquainted with ourselves by self-examination, and, when we shall have discovered all our faults and all the germs of iniquity that lie hid in our corrupt nature, to esteem ourselves as the last of men - this is the third step.
Still advancing, and, knowing that we are the last of men, to believe sincerely that we are worthy of contempt - this is the fourth step.
From the sentiment of our unworthiness let us pass to its realization in action. Let us receive contempt with patience. Behold the fifth step. Let us not bargain about contempt, but rather let us desire it, go to meet it, and seek in it our purest joy. This is the sixth step.
A supreme effort is this: If God loads us with the favors only accorded to holy souls, and we only regard our corruption and nothingness; if we are confounded with the immensity of His goodness, as He forgot Himself in deigning to look upon us - this is the perfection of humility.
If we are thus humble it is well. The foundation of the spiritual life is laid. On its depth depends its solidity. The deeper we sink it the higher and more magnificent will be the edifice that God's grace will build in our souls.
- text taken from Fruits of the Rosary, by Father Jacques-Marie Louis Monsabre, O.P.