The second joyful mystery- The Visitation

You can see the fruit of this mystery, fraternal charity, in the way Mary rushes to serve Elizabeth in the last months of her pregnancy, even though she herself is pregnant in what the world would see as difficult circumstances. She must have completely trusted in God, because she did not stay home for the sake of her own child in the womb.  You can also see fraternal charity in the way Elizabeth proclaims Mary's blessedness: "Who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" Once again, Mary shows her total humility by acknowledging that God has honored her and by returning all the honor to him. Her response is very much in line with the character she showed at the Annunciation. Just as Elizabeth acknowledges Mary's blessedness, her son in the womb leaps to acknowledge Christ. Traditionally, John was freed from original sin from that moment that he lept in the womb, and was thus born without original sin. It must have been a very powerful thing then, what took place when he lept. God uses the most powerless among us, an unborn baby, to show us his glory. Of course humanity does not usually recognize these kinds of signs because it does not recognize the value of the source.

The first joyful mystery- The Annunciation

The fruit of this mystery, humility, seems to be the basis of almost all the mysteries, because God the Son was so humbled to become human (joyful), to live (luminous), and to die (sorrowful). In this mystery God becomes a zygote. A zygote! A single-celled human being, what could be more humble? The incarnation is traditionally the reason why Satan rebelled against God: He was unable to bear the humiliation of it all. This level of humility must be unfathomable to humans. More relatable, but still entirely above our own abilities, is the humility of Mary. Here she is, honored above all other women by God Himself, and we know by doctrine of the Church that she felt no sinful pride. Amazement at the awesomeness of God is what Mary felt, a truly humble response.

Hail, Mary

     "Heaven rejoices and earth is amazed when I say: Hail, Mary! Satan flees, hell trembles when I say: Hail, Mary! The world becomes contemptible, the flesh foul, when I say: Hail, Mary! Sadness disappears and joy returns when I say: Hail, Mary!

     "Tepidity vanishes and the heart is inflamed with love when I say: Hail, Mary! Devotion grows, compunction is born, hope intensifies, and consolation is increased when I say: Hail, Mary! The soul is renewed and the inclination to good is strengthened when I say: Hail, Mary!'"

-Thomas A Kempis, The Imitation of Mary