"The Annunciation"
"And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, . . . And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call His name Jesus."—(St. Luke, I, 28-31)
Mary's Humility
As Jesus, the Savior of Mankind, humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto the death of the Cross, how fitting that Mary, his Mother, should in the moment of her greatest exaltation teach us the lesson of Humility.
Pride wrought the ruin of legions of angels; through pride our first parents sinned in the Garden of Happiness. By humility our salvation was achieved—the humility of the Word of God. In our pride we have disobeyed God's holy law. Through humble penance are we to regain God's favor.
O Mary, humble hand-maid of the Lord, pray that we know our own unworthiness!
Second Joyful Mystery:
