Mary's "Yes."

[Mort_Alz]

The first mystery of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary is the Anunciation and it has attached to it the virtue of humility.

This has been a little puzzling to me in the past. Is the attached virtue humility because it’s thought that motherhood is mundane, plain, and diminished? Is it humility because of the circumstances? That Mary was going to have to be content to have others think she was unfaithful to Joseph? Because being the Mother of God doesn’t seem very humiliating. Basically, what I’m asking is why is Mary’s yes attributed to her as a colossal act of virtue when it seems to me that it would be easy to accept such an honor. Maybe even evoke pride to be such a central and colossal person in human and cosmic history.

Any perspectives?

 

[Samuel_Mary]

I suppose it shows humility to totally submit to God’s will and trust in Him

That Mary was going to have to be content to have others think she was unfaithful to Joseph

This too. Bravery was needed to trust God and not worry about Joseph reporting to her to the authorities (which could mean death) and humility was needed to bear the secondary consequences of what the neighbours might think - that she’d either committed adultery, or at least broken her temple vow.

 

[Crusaderbear]

She knew it would ‘ruin’ her life - no one would understand what she did, but she did it anyway because God asked.

 

[Della]

The first mystery of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary is the Anunciation and it has attached to it the virtue of humility.

This has been a little puzzling to me in the past. Is the attached virtue humility because it’s thought that motherhood is mundane, plain, and diminished? Is it humility because of the circumstances? That Mary was going to have to be content to have others think she was unfaithful to Joseph? Because being the Mother of God doesn’t seem very humiliating. Basically, what I’m asking is why is Mary’s yes attributed to her as a colossal act of virtue when it seems to me that it would be easy to accept such an honor. Maybe even evoke pride to be such a central and colossal person in human and cosmic history.

Any perspectives?

Mary herself told us what it meant to her in her Magnificat:

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his handmaid…

Mary stood in awe at the thought that God has chosen her to be, as St. Elizabeth put it, “the mother of my Lord.” She realized she was just flesh and blood, but that God had chosen to overshadow her, as he had overshadowed the Tabernacle with the Holy Spirit, and made her his own. She realized what a privilege and responsibility she now had. This is true humility–to understand who you are in relation to God and others.

 

[Roseeurekacross]

I see the answer to that in the Magnificat

biblehub.com/parallelgospels/The_Magnificat_of_Mary_in_Reply_to_Elisabeths_Greeting.htm

 

[friardchips]

I suppose it shows humility to totally submit to God’s will and trust in Him

This too. Bravery was needed to trust God and not worry about Joseph reporting to her to the authorities (which could mean death) and humility was needed to bear the secondary consequences of what the neighbours might think - that she’d either committed adultery, or at least broken her temple vow.

I tend to think that those who knew her well, would not have thought these things. Though there could have been the danger that some might have let this idea enter their heads. A careless word expressed, here and there, could have been dangerous. Certainly, those who did not know her, might have thought such things. However, I tend to think her life was hidden, to a great degree, and therefore, such details would not have been broadcast to all and sundry. God would never have let the situation get out-of-hand. And Our Lady trusted that this would be the case. Mary’s humility was in relation to the preparation for the invitation of The Word to be made Flesh. That Mary would then have the humility to respond.

 

[DebChris]

There is often a misconception concerning what humility means. It is not a negative term as is so often perceived in today’s society that values self-esteem. Reading Mary’s Magnificat, the prayer mentioned in the earlier post, there is nothing lacking in Mary’s self-esteem.
To be humble is to understand who you are.
Mary did not come from some rich family that could boast of its wealth. She doesn’t boast about her intelligence. God chose this woman, whom future generation would call Blessed to carry Salvation to the world. She is the Ark of the New Covenant.
It is God who gives us any special talents we may have. How we use those talents and gifts are our gift back to God and to the world that He created.
My intellect doesn’t make me better than somebody who may not be as smart as I am any more than my minimal artistic ability makes me less a person than a virtuoso.
Mary was given a specific role in Salvation’s history. Each person has a specific vocation in life. For some it is motherhood. For others, it is religious life. One person works in a factory, while another writes a great literary masterpiece. Again, humility has a place in each of these people’s lives.

 

[joeybaggz]

The first mystery of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary is the Anunciation and it has attached to it the virtue of humility.

This has been a little puzzling to me in the past. Is the attached virtue humility because it’s thought that motherhood is mundane, plain, and diminished? Is it humility because of the circumstances? That Mary was going to have to be content to have others think she was unfaithful to Joseph? Because being the Mother of God doesn’t seem very humiliating. Basically, what I’m asking is why is Mary’s yes attributed to her as a colossal act of virtue when it seems to me that it would be easy to accept such an honor. Maybe even evoke pride to be such a central and colossal person in human and cosmic history.

Any perspectives?

I’ve heard the best definition of humility is"not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself, less" As one poster has already pointed out, Mary in accepting God’s request, put her very life in danger. It was custom in Mosaic law that anyone found to be with sin (as in fornication/pre-marital sex) at the time of betrothal, was to be taken to the gates of the city and stoned to death so that the abomination may be wiped out of the heart of Israel.

Mary would have understood this law and still said yes. Why, because we believe, in a humble manner, she trusted in God to be spared this judgment and punishment. The lady sure thought more of God and less of herself.

My :twocents:

 

[DebChris]

I’ve heard the best definition of humility is"not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself, less" As one poster has already pointed out, Mary in accepting God’s request, put her very life in danger. It was custom in Mosaic law that anyone found to be with sin (as in fornication/pre-marital sex) at the time of betrothal, was to be taken to the gates of the city and stoned to death so that the abomination may be wiped out of the heart of Israel.

Mary would have understood this law and still said yes. Why, because we believe, in a humble manner, she trusted in God to be spared this judgment and punishment. The lady sure thought more of God and less of herself.

My :twocents:

Mary is accepting that she has been chosen for a special role regardless of consequences. As a woman, she has no idea how other people will respond to the choice she has made, her acceptance of God’s Will in her life.
Joseph is the first person, other than Mary who has a decision to make. Will he expose her to judgment? She is his betrothed. While not yet married, their engagement is as serious and she is expected to be faithful. How long can she hide a pregnancy? Mary is an unwed mother. Joseph makes plans to divorce her, to keep the matter quiet. He is already protecting her reputation and her life. Then comes the dream and the truth. Mary is protected. The child is protected. An interdependent familial relationship of husband and wife develops. Mary allows her husband to protect her. Joseph allows God to lead him. It does not mean that Mary lacks independence. After all, when she learns that her cousin Elizabeth is also with child, the first thing she does is go to her.
Humility involves being aware that others also have needs.
As John the Baptist phrased it, “I must diminish that He might increase.”

How do we respond when God has chosen us. “Who me? What do I have to offer? How can it be?” What is the likelihood that we would really toot our own horn, instead of looking for excuses for why God couldn’t have “me” in mind for such a role, whatever it might be?