Scripture related to the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary often begins with the event as a logical starting point. For the first Joyful Mystery, the Annunciation, Luke tells us that the angel Gabriel announces to St. Mary God’s plan to conceive through her the Son of God and Mary consents. The fruit of the mystery—humility—emerges not merely as a description of St. Mary’s attitude but as a guide deeper into the mystery, fostering contemplation of Scripture. This may reveal links to events prefigured in the Old Testament or prophesied about, but most profoundly, it draws us to Jesus' direct teachings in the Gospels.
Let us begin with Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, specifically the first Beatitude as recorded in Matthew 5:3: "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
St. John Chrysostom (Doctor of the Church, c. 347–407) explains: "What is meant by the poor in spirit? The humble and contrite in mind. For by spirit He has here designated the soul, and the faculty of choice. That is, since many are humble not willingly, but compelled by stress of circumstances; letting these pass (for this were no matter of praise), He blesses them first, who by choice humble and contract themselves. But why said he not, the humble, but rather the poor? Because this is more than that. For He means here them who are awestruck, and tremble at the commandments of God."
St. Augustine (Doctor of the Church, c. 354–430) adds: "What, then, does He say? Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. We read in Scripture concerning the striving after temporal things, All is vanity and presumption of spirit; but presumption of spirit means audacity and pride: usually also the proud are said to have great spirits; and rightly, in as much as the wind also is called spirit. And hence it is written, Fire, hail, snow, ice, spirit of tempest. But, indeed, who does not know that the proud are spoken of as puffed up, as if swelled out with wind? And hence also that expression of the apostle, Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies. And the poor in spirit are rightly understood here, as meaning the humble and God-fearing, i.e. those who have not the spirit which puffs up. Nor ought blessedness to begin at any other point whatever, if indeed it is to attain unto the highest wisdom; but the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; for, on the other hand also, pride is entitled the beginning of all sin."
In the Holy Virgin Mary, we find perfect humility: giving all glory to God and trusting completely in His plan, as she consents in Luke 1:38: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” St. Mary’s consent to be the Mother of God is the perfect fulfillment of the first and greatest commandment, and the second that is like unto it. As Jesus teaches in Matthew 22:36-40: “36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
St. Augustine says “humility” and fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and its opposite “pride” the beginning of all sin. Let prayer and contemplation of the Holy Rosary then lead us to humility and wisdom. And lead us to the commandments on which hang all the law and the prophets, and to the Son and the kingdom of heaven.
