Proverbs 31:29

What are little girls ages 3 to 14 like? What do they like to do or talk about? According to ageless standards, they probably like to play dress-up or make-believe and like to talk to their friends a lot and enjoy eating sweet treats and visiting friends to play and share secrets. As a little girl, Saint Mary didn’t fit any of those molds. She didn’t live in her parents’ home being coddled like most little girls her age.  She didn’t have a multiple choice of dresses, a daintily decorated bedroom of her own or friends that came over to play with her. She didn’t go to birthdays, or parks and play under the watchful and adoring eyes of family, friends and relatives. Hers was an extraordinary life from birth- not like any other young girl’s life. She was promised to the temple by her parents upon birth and was chosen by God before birth to be the Mother of the Savior of the world.

Upon her entry into the Temple, her life was that of humble servitude. The Virgin Mary was orphaned at a very young age. Some scholars say that her father St. Joachim died when she was 3 and her mother St. Anne died when she was 8 and in both cases while Saint Mary was living at the temple. How must it feel to be so young and helpless and so alone in the world? She had no one to talk to or to share her fears or feelings with on hard days or good ones, rather she kept all her life events to herself as scriptures tell us. She quietly and obediently lived her life doing her work while meditating on God and Scriptures in prayerful solitude. Picture this little innocent and delicate child toiling daily in the temple at arduous tasks and helping the priests from morning till night, but with loving and watchful care, God took care of her by sending His angels to tend to her needs.

Even though she was young and alone, she knew very early on in her life, God was planning, watching and providing. This knowledge was the basis of her life of faith and surrender. When she became of age and it was time to leave the temple, she had to be put under someone’s guardianship and become betrothed. She didn’t choose the one who was going to be her betrothed nor did she object when the choice was made for her like many girls of marrying age and say “Let me think first” or simply even question this strange plan: “how can I marry someone I never met before?” or: “What kind of a way is this to get married?” But, she trusted. She trusted as a child would trust a parent knowing that her life is in good hands, the hands of God. Not only did she know that she was to trust as a child but she knew that she was God’s humble servant as she described herself in her own words “the lowly state of His maidservant”, therefore, that is what a servant must do: be at the command of the master. 

The Archangel Gabriel came to her bringing news of the Incarnation of the Savior, and all through the ages believers often wondered what went through her mind as she heard the awesome words: “Rejoice highly favored one”? We know she was frightened and troubled because the angel told her not to be afraid…But can we ever imagine what she felt at hearing that she was going to bear the “Son of the Highest” and “the Lord will give Him the throne of His father David…His kingdom will have no end”? What did this young, simple and pure person do and how did she react to this overwhelming announcement? It was at this point that her humble disposition was manifested and it was this moment, the moment of the “Fullness of Time” that many generations awaited and had finally arrived… “Behold the maidservant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word”. These were the only words that could have been spoken for the Savior to finally be born of the Virgin Mary. This is why she was chosen and this is the reason she came to the world and lived the life she did.

Though she was only betrothed, she didn’t fear for her reputation because she was unwed- although that would have been a perfectly normal reaction for any other ordinary unwed girl. She did not utter a word of false modesty or make any grand statements, rather, she endured the apparition with quiet humility and obedience gently asking “How can this be since I do not know a man?” The Angel responded “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Highest will overshadow you”. In consent, the Saint obeyed saying “Let it be to me according to your word”.

The honor and blessing which St. Mary was given, and which she spoke of during her visit to St. Elizabeth did not make her less humble- rather she knew that it was because of her disposition, the Lord “has done great things” for her. He “put down the mighty and exalted the lowly…He has filled the hungry with good things”. She didn’t utter a word of pride of the glory granted her by God.