Church Fathers Commentary Luke 1:48

"For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed." — Luke 1:48 (ASV)

Greek Expositors: She gives the reason why it is right for her to magnify God and rejoice in Him, saying, For he has regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden. It is as if to say, “He Himself foresaw this, so I was not seeking it. I was content with lowly things, but now I am chosen for inexpressible purposes and raised from the earth to the stars.”

St. Augustine of Hippo: O true lowliness, which brought God to men, gave life to mortals, made new heavens and a pure earth, opened the gates of Paradise, and set free the souls of men! The lowliness of Mary was made the heavenly ladder by which God descended to earth. For what does “regarded” mean but “approved”? For many seem to me to be lowly, but their lowliness is not regarded by the Lord. For if they were truly lowly, their spirit would rejoice not in the world, but in God.

Origen of Alexandria: But why was she lowly and downcast, who carried the Son of God in her womb? Consider that lowliness which is particularly praised in the Scriptures as one of the virtues, which the philosophers call “modestia.” We can also paraphrase it as that state of mind in which a person, instead of being puffed up, humbles himself.

The Venerable Bede: She whose humility is regarded is rightly called blessed by all, as it follows: For, behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.

St. Athanasius of Alexandria: For if, as the Prophet says, Blessed are they who have seed in Zion, and kinsfolk in Jerusalem, how great should be the celebration of the divine and ever-holy Virgin Mary, who became, according to the flesh, the Mother of the Word?

Greek Expositors: She does not call herself blessed out of vainglory, for what room is there for pride in one who called herself the handmaid of the Lord? Instead, moved by the Holy Spirit, she foretold what was to come.

The Venerable Bede: For it was fitting that just as death came into the world through the pride of our first parent, so through the humility of Mary the entrance to life should be opened.

Theophylact of Ohrid: And therefore she says “all generations,” referring not only to Elizabeth but also to every nation that believes.