We have followed our Blessed Saviour by contemplation through the mysteries of the Rosary. Our first duty was to Him. Under the invocation of His grace and permission we will now consider His holy Mother in these same mysteries. In doing so we will not lose sight of Him; for where Jesus is, there is Mary.
"An angel is sent from God to Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man named Joseph, of the house and family of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary." (Luke 1)
Let us consider with what respectful homage the messenger of God performs his mission. He does not deliver a command, as the angels had hitherto done when addressing patriarchs, prophets, or kings; but he expresses by a respectful salutation his profound reverence: Ave Maria - Hail Mary!
And what is found so venerable in this young maiden, this child of humanity, that an angel is obliged to bow before Her? Two things: The grace of God with which She is tilled and the greatness to which She is destined. She differed in this from all other mortals, that She was not stained by the guilt of the primal fall. The sacred germ of sanctity engrafted upon Her from the first moment of Her conception had developed without hindrance or delay, and had produced virtues singularly admirable. She is indeed "full of grace, and the Lord is with Her." He will verily be with Her when the adorable mystery shall have been accomplished which Gabriel came to announce to Her in the very words of the prophet Isaias as quoted by Saint Luke: "Behold a virgin shall conceive and shall bring forth a son, . . . and He shall be called the Son of the Most High."
What is the attitude of Mary in presence of this wonderful announcement? When God loaded Her with so many favors it would seem that Her first impulse would be a transport of joy and of gratitude. Not at all. Her joy is hidden; Her gratitude will come in its own time, more profound and more lively because it will have been prepared by a sincere and profound humility. Before the song of gladness passes through Her heart, and the expression of gratitude flows from Her lips, Mary instinctively imitates the annihilation of Him who comes to Her. She is troubled; She believes Herself unworthy of this honor conferred upon Her and of the glory that is announced. She reflects that it is only the One who is the source of all grace that can be truly full of grace. Having become certain that She was to be the Mother of God, She proclaims Herself His handmaid, and wishes ever to remain so.
How well calculated this wonderful humility of our Mother is to confound us! Wretched children of sin that we are and sinners ourselves, very poor in grace and virtue, we are ever ready to be puffed up with pride. There is no need of angels coming down from heaven to do us homage or to felicitate us, to make us think highly of ourselves. It is quite sufficient that men should address us in words of praise. And what men! Not always those who are superior to ourselves in position or character, not always those whose discrimination and ability justify us in giving credit to their words; but often the most inconsiderate and even vilest of men, men who content themselves with seeing merely the outside of our characters and who flatter us only to detect our follies and strip us of our good qualities. In the absence of flattery how prodigal we are of Aves directed to ourselves! Blind to our imperfections and faults, and considering only the advantages, more or less notable, we have derived from nature and education, we take occasion from them to prefer ourselves to others. The very gifts of God himself serve but to turn our heads; spiritual favors too often become food for our incurable vanity; and instead of seeing in them the pure liberality of the Giver of all good gifts and of making them redound to His glory, we attribute them to our own merits and turn them to our own advantage.
O Mary! Thou Virgin ever most humble, have pity on these poor children. Inspire them with a contempt of praise and flattery, a horror of vain complaisance; and should they be gifted with the best that nature and grace can give, make them look upon themselves as the least of the servants of God.