Mary’s Humility, a Warm Cloak for All

Mary never preferred herself to others

The first act of humility in one's heart is to hold oneself in low esteem. For her part, the Holy Virgin always had such a low opinion of herself that, even while being more full of grace than all men and all the angels, she never preferred herself to others. [...]

Mary saw her own smallness

It isn't that the Blessed Virgin believed herself to be a sinner, for humility is truth and Mary knew she had never offended the Good Lord. It isn't that she refused to admit that God had granted her more graces than all other creatures either, for a humble heart can discern God's special favors, in order to humble itself even more. In the higher light that opened up the infinite greatness and goodness of God, she saw her own smallness more clearly. [...]

Mary praised the Lord

When Saint Elizabeth said to the Blessed Virgin Mary "Most blessed are you among women. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Blessed are you who believed" (Lk 1: 42-45). What does Mary do? Bringing back all these praises to God, she answers by this canticle of humility: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord." It's a if she said: "Elizabeth, you praise me, but I glorify the Lord to whom all glory is due. You wonder at the fact that I came to you, but I admire God's goodness: "my spirit rejoices in God my savior" (Lk 1: 46-47). You praise me for having believed, but I praise my God for he wished to exalt my nothingness, and because he looked upon the lowliness of his servant.

Mary loved to serve others

Furthermore, let's say that proper of humility finds pleasure in serving others. That is why the Virgin hastened to visit her cousin Elizabeth to be of service to her for three months. Elizabeth was surprised that the Blessed Virgin came to visit...

She enjoyed keeping to herself

Moreover, humble persons like to keep to themselves and choose the last place. That is why Mary, wishing one day to speak to Jesus who was preaching inside a house (Mt 12: 46), didn't want to interrupt her Son's discourse nor enter the house where he was speaking, even by natural authority as Saint Bernard points out [1]. [...]

She shared her Son's dishonor

Finally, humility embraces contempt. We do not read that Mary was shown in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, when the people were welcoming her Son with so many honors. However, when Jesus is going to die, she isn't afraid to show up on Calvary in the presence of everybody and be recognized as the mother of the condemned man, who is dying an infamous death; she shared his dishonor. [...]

Hide under my cloak ...

She abhors the proud and calls to herself only humble souls: Let whoever is simple turn in here (Pr 9: 4). Mary herself took pains to let this known by confiding to St Bridget:

"Come here, my daughter, and hide under my cloak: this cloak is my humility."

After comparing her humility to a great cloak that warms souls, she added:

"A cloak can't warm someone unless it is worn; so to gain something by my humility, people must wear it, not only in their thoughts, but also in their actions." [2]

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[1] Cf. Saint Bernard, Sermon of the Twelve Stars, § 10

[2] Saint Bridget, Revelationes, II, 23

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St Alphonsus of Liguori,

Discourse on the Virtues of Mary, in "The Glories of Mary"

(Ed Saint Paul, Paris 1987, p.282-285)