The First Mystery: The Annunciation
The Fruit: Profound Humility

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1. Mary, fourteen years old, was enrapt in profound adoration of the Divine Majesty and in the most humble of spirits was in deep contemplation for her Spouse, the Holy Ghost was communicating to her that the fullness of time was at hand, although, in her deep humility, she had no inkling that she was to be the Mother of God.

2. St. Gabriel, the Archangel [and all his celestial cohort] descended to the town of Nazareth and to the humble maid's abode.

3. Mary's modesty and self-abnegation did not permit her to gaze directly upon the holy Angel, which he could not allow, for it was he that must bow before her sublime and august majesty, the majesty of her purity and humility, her nobility above that of the Angels themselves.

4. St. Gabriel saluted his Queen, saying, "Ave gratia plena, Dominicus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus." [St. Luke 1:28]

5. Mary was disturbed, not in mind, but because she thought herself the lowest of creatures; although she understood then that she was to be the Mother of the Savior, she was perturbed in her humility that she had been so chosen. She asked, "How can this be, since I know not and cannot know man?"

6. The Angel Gabriel announced that she would be overshadowed by the Holy Ghost. He also revealed that her cousin Elizabeth, long thought to be barren had conceived a son and was in her six month.

7. "To the Son Whom thou shalt bear, God will give the throne of His Father David and His reign shall be everlasting."

8.  As Our Lady exceeded the Angels in wisdom, prudence and in all sanctity, she withheld Her answer, in order to be able to give it in accordance with the Divine Will and that it might be worthy of the greatest of all the mysteries and sacraments of the Divine Power. She reflected that upon Her answer depended the pledge of the Most Blessed Trinity, the fulfillment of His promises and prophecies, the most pleasing and acceptable of all sacrifices, the opening of the gates of Paradise, the victory and triumph over Hell, the redemption of all the human race the satisfaction of the Divine Justice . . .
 
9. Therefore Mary inspected profoundly this spacioUs field of the dignity of Mother of God [Prov. 21:16] in order to purchase it by Her fiat; She clothed herself in fortitude, and she tasted and saw how profitable was this enterprise and commerce with the Divinity. She comprehended the ways of His hidden benevolence and adorned herself this beauty. Her Purest Soul was absorbed and elevated in admiration, reverence and highest intensity of Divine love.

10. "Be it done unto me according to Thy word."
Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum. [St. Luke 1:31]

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