Imitate Mary’s modesty, Church Fathers: Day 363

Imitate Mary’s modesty

St. Ambrose holds up Mary as an example of modesty. She spent her time alone with Scripture, and instead of being proud to be chosen by God she became even more humble.

When the angel entered, Mary was found at home in privacy, without a companion, so that no one might interrupt her attention or disturb her. She did not desire any women as companions, because she had the companionship of good thoughts. In fact, she seemed to herself to be less alone when she was alone. How could she be alone, when she had with her so many books, so many archan­gels, so many prophets?

Thus Gabriel found her when he visited her (Luke 1:28), and Mary trem­bled, being disturbed, as though at the form of a man. But on hearing his name she recognized him as one not unknown to her. And so she was a stranger to men, but not to the angel—so that we might know that her ears were modest and her eyes bashful. Then when greeted she kept silence, and when addressed she an­swered, and she whose feelings were first troubled afterwards promised obedience.

And holy Scripture points out how modest she was towards her neighbors. For she became more humble when she knew herself to be chosen of God, and went immediately to her cousin in the hill country—not in order to gain belief by anything external, for she had believed the word of God. “Blessed,” her cousin said, “is she who believed” (Luke 1:45). And she stayed with her three months. Now in such an interval of time it is not that faith is being sought for, but kind­ness that is being shown. And this was after that the child, leaping in his mother’s womb, had saluted the mother of the Lord, achieving reason before birth.

–St. Ambrose, On Virginity, 2.10-12

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Just for today, how can I imitate Mary’s example of humble and selfless service?

CLOSING PRAYER

Glory to the Father, who sent his only Son to be born of Mary, freeing us from sin and making her memory forever glorious on earth and in heaven.

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