The Virgin Mary admired only one thing in herself

Truly, the Savior of the world placed gentleness and humility at the foundation of virtues. Abstinence, fasting, austerity, inner or outer poverty, good works, miracles, all is nothing without the humility of the heart. But all these things come to life and receive his blessing, if humility lies underneath.

Humility of the heart is the generative force of all virtues. The stem and the branches proceed only from the root. Because its price is infinite, and because it is the foundation on which all spiritual perfection rises, the Lord only wished to reserve for Himself the care of saying to us: "Be humble."

Because humility is the universal guardian, the Virgin Mary, as if she had forgotten all the other virtues of her soul and body, admired only one thing in herself and gave a reason for the incarnation of the Son of God in her: "Because He has looked upon the humility of his servant."

Saint Angela of Foligno, an Italian mystic favored with many visions (d. 1309)