Imitate Mary’s humility, Mary: Day 075

Last updated on: October 4, 2015 at 3:30 am by Pete Socks

Imitate Mary’s humility, Mary: Day 075 2015-09-20T12:46:06-05:00 Pete Socks

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Imitate Mary’s humility

We can never be true children of Mary, St. Alphonsus warns, if we aren’t humble.

On one occasion our Lord showed St. Bridget two ladies. One was all pomp and vanity. “She is Pride,” the Lord said. “But the other one you see with her head bent down, courteous toward all, having God alone in mind, and con- sidering herself as no one, is Humility. Her name is Mary.” In this revelation, God was pleased to make known to us that the humility of his blessed Mother is so great that she is humility itself.

There can be no doubt, as St. Gregory of Nyssa says of humility, that of all virtues, perhaps none is more difficult to our nature to practice, given that our nature is corrupted by sin. But there is no alternative. We can never be true children of Mary if we aren’t humble.

St. Bernard observes: “If you can’t imitate the virginity of this humble Vir- gin, imitate her humility.” She detests the proud, and she invites only the humble to come to her, saying, “Whoever is a little one, let him come to me” (see Prv 9:4). “Mary protects us under the mantle of humility,” says Richard of Saint Lawrence. The Mother of God herself explained what her mantle was to St.
Bridget, saying, “Come, my daughter, and hide yourself under my mantle; this mantle is my humility.”

She then added that the consideration of her humility was a good mantle with which we could warm ourselves. But just as a mantle warms only those who actually wear it, rather than just think about wearing it, “so also her humility is of no avail except to those who endeavor to imitate it. . . . Therefore, my daugh- ter, clothe yourself with this humility.” —St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
In which events and circumstances of her life do I see Mary practicing humil- ity? How can I imitate her?

CLOSING PRAYER
From a prayer of St. Alphonsus: My Queen, I can never be really your child unless I am humble. But my sins have made me proud. My Mother, supply a remedy. By the merit of your humility, obtain for me that I may be truly humble, and thus become your child.

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