MARY, OUR MOTHER

OUR LADY'S VISITATION AND ST. ELIZABETH

4. Her Humility.

The other words of Elizabeth show feelings of deep and lovely humility. How have I deserved to be thus visited by the Mother of my Lord? Elizabeth was bound to Mary by links of human relationship. She was senior in age to Mary. She too was a holy woman. Yet she proclaims that she does not merit to receive the visit of Our Lady. And do you think you deserve it? Have you reason to ask Our Lady not to leave you, to ask Her to accompany and to visit you? Yes, you have a very powerful reason to demand Her visit and it is just the reason given above: namely: that you are so small, so despicable, so miserable: this entitles you to trust in Our Lady more and more, because She, like a loving Mother, lavishes Her fondest care on Her most needy, most weak, most feeble child. And Her glory will be the greater if She manages to give such a child the life so badly needed. How great will be the glory of Mary if She, in spite of all your failings, ingratitude and miseries, manages to make of you a holy soul. Trust Her, then, and ask Her to try.

Finally, St. Elizabeth prophesies that because Mary believed in the Word of God She will be blessed. Eve did not believe in God's word and brought us havoc. Mary believed, and through Her faith the Incarnation and our Redemption took place. Thank Mary for Her faith which has brought salvation to us. Ask Her the grace to imitate that same spirit of simple faith, to follow Her words, to accept Her inspirations. Since faith entails humility and mistrust of ourselves, Faith, together with obedience and acceptance of God's will, is the way to make good Eve's disobedience; it enables us to partake of the fruits of Mary's obedience.

[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]