August 13

On Humility

Preparation. - Humility being specially proposed this month to our attention, we shall see, first, the motives we have for esteeming ourselves the least of all, and secondly, before whom we should specially humble ourselves; and then we shall examine whether we are fond of a hidden life, and we shall take these words of St. Paul as our spiritual nosegay: “Let us not be made desirous of vain-glory” (Gal. 5. 26).

I. Why We Should Take The Last Place

How we should be filled with humility and gratitude, when we consider the countless favors bestowed on us! So many gifts, lights, special helps and means of salvation are at our disposal! Meditations, Masses, Communions, pious readings, edifying examples, all concur in leading us to virtue. And yet, where is our progress? If an unbeliever had received one-half of the graces conferred on us, would he not already have become a great saint? How well calculated is such a thought to humbles us, who are so full of defects and so wanting in virtue!

But what do I say? O my God, I know beyond all possibility of doubt, that I have committed many sins and that I am very guilty in Thy presence. On the other hand, I know not how far my neighbor is responsible in Thy sight. He may have had fewer helps, and more occasions and enticements to sin, and committed fewer sins than I. And even did I know that he is a great criminal, I may, in one sense, believe myself the most miserable of sinners, on account of the special assistance given me and the monstrous pride that domineers over me.

As the Angelic Doctor teaches, a sin is so much the more heinous as the ingratitude of the sinner is more heinous in the sight of the Lord. A single sin of mine may be heavier before God than the crimes of a great criminal, who has received fewer graces. And, O Lord, has not my life been a tissue of voluntary faults, and are not even my good works often full of self-love and numberless imperfections? how great the punishments I deserve both in this life and in the next! I will, in future, go down in spirit to the lowest depths of hell, and place myself below the very demons and the vilest reprobates, for there the saints placed themselves, mindful of their want of fidelity.

O my God, had I, like so many others, been born of parents bearing a hatred of religion, had my passions been as violent as those of so many public sinners, would I not have become even more wicked than they? How this thoughts compel me to place myself beneath every one! Grant me a sincere love of abjection and a desire to be ignored, forgotten, and despised among creatures, so that I may live constantly and solely in Thy sight, O my sweetest, most holy and most amiable Creator!

II. Towards Whom We Should Especially Practice Humility

It behooves us especially to practice this virtue in our relations with God and with our neighbor. Who can find it difficult to lower and abase himself in the presence of the infinite grandeur and the sovereign majesty of the thrice holy God, before whom the angels veil their faces to acknowledge their powerlessness to praise Him worthily? Every thing should cover us with confusion in the sight of the King of kings; He is the eternal and necessary Being, and we are nothingness. He is wisdom, power, infinite riches, to whom every thing belongs and is due; and we are but mere ignorance, weakness and poverty, unable of ourselves to get rid of our misery. “Can man be justified compared with God? ... The stars are not pure in His sight; how much less man that is rottenness, and the son of man who is a worm?” (Job 25. 4-6). Should not such thoughts make us docile and dependent in all things on the dominion of God and the guidance of His Providence?

They should also fill us with respect and deference towards our brethren, who are the living temples of the Holy Ghost. In fact, it would ill become us, were we to acknowledge ourselves vile and abject during prayer, and then, at other times, to domineer over our fellow-men, to speak haughtily to them, to reproach them with their defects, to make them feel our superiority over them in smartness, talents, good qualities and virtue! This would be the case, were we to fail to practice humility in our relations with our neighbor.

Let us examine whether we are always kind and considerate towards others, as are all who possess a heart humble, forgetful of self and devoted to their brethren. Are we constantly disposed to rejoice sincerely at the happiness and success of others, to bear without bitterness contradiction, disdain, rebuffs, and want of due regard? Do we not speak sharply to our subordinates, and reprove them harshly?

O Jesus, give me sentiments conformable to those of Thy Sacred Heart, sentiments of esteem, charity and condescension towards every one. Through Mary’s intercession, who was the most humble of creatures, grant me, first, humility of mind, that I may learn to know my nothingness, my ignorance, my corruption and the malice of my sins; and secondly, humility of heart, which may inspire me with a wholesome hatred of self, patience in confusion, derision, coldness and the most keenly felt affronts.