God, Neighbor, Ourselves
Humility does not consist so much in despising ourselves, but rather in forgetting ourselves, joyfully recognizing that we have nothing that we have not received. It lead us to become God’s little children, who find all their strength in the strong hand of God, their Father. Thus, to be humble is to live in reality; it is essentially an awareness of our own position:
(a) before God;
(b) before other men; and
(c) with regard to ourselves.
Once we know our situation, we should act accordingly, imitating Jesus Christ and wisely controlling our desires for personal glory.
Humility in Relation to God
The practice of humility implies our reverence and subjection to God; it has the following manifestations:
(a) Piety toward God. Once we become aware that we are children of God, the logical consequence is for us to render him adoration and submission. The following aspiration reflects a humble piety toward God: “Only you are holy”, “Not unto us, Lord, not unto us, but unto your Name give glory,” Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam (Ps 113:1).
(b) Gratefulness: “Lord, take all I have and cherish; you have given me all I have.” “We give thanks, Almighty God, for all your benefits.”
c) Sense of dependence upon God. We come from nothing –“from the dust of the soil;” we cannot do anything of our own, either in the natural order –God keeps the world in being– or in the supernatural order –“without Me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:15). Hence, our absolute dependence on God. The acknowledgment of our nothingness must lead us to rely on God for everything. Consider thus:
(i) How ridiculous it is to boast of our lineage and “connections”; we come from nothing.
(ii) How foolish it is to bask in our alleged qualities and achievements. At the level of being, we are nothing; at the level of action, we can do nothing without God.
(iii) What a great lie pride is. Only humility is truth.#1
Humility in Relation to Our Neighbors
We must appreciate the many gifts our neighbors have received from God. Considering what we have that is truly ours (our sins), we must be grateful to God and esteem our neighbors.
We also have been enriched with gifts and graces from God; we are God’s instruments on the crossroads of the world. Thus, for God’s sake, we should humble ourselves and serve the others with our work and loyal friendship. In relation to our neighbors, we should follow these guidelines:
(a) Without envy or jealousy, to appreciate the natural and supernatural gifts God has given them.
(b) Not to gloat over our neighbors’ defects; rather, to excuse them with charity; at least, to concede our neighbors’ good intentions; to correct them if we are in a position of authority. We should offer them our sincere friendship, pray for their conversion, and –if advisable– help them with fraternal correction.
(c) To consider ourselves inferior, because of our poor correspondence to grace. One should think: Anyone else who could have received all the graces God has given me, would have been more faithful to God.
(d) Humility is not indecision, a waiving of our rights in order to avoid friction with anybody and become acceptable to all. It is rather the profound conviction that God is our Father and uses us as his instruments; thus, at times we must demand from others. To follow Christ is to reach the fullness of human and supernatural maturity to which each Christian has been called. Since the sanctity of a lay person revolves around his work, we must seek prestige and status in our profession, but gaining it in honest competition with our colleagues.
(e) We need humility to realize what aspects of our conduct are not pleasing to God and to the others; and to correct these faults. We must forget ourselves and concentrate on making life pleasant for those who live or work with us. If we have a genuine affection for the others, we will overcome any friction arising from differences in character. Thus, we will bring to our family life the flavor of charity and the warmth of a Christian home.
We should also consider that our neighbors have some virtues we lack; or that we have some vices the neighbors do not have. Thus, we humbly submit ourselves to the others.#2
Humility in Relation to Ourselves
Humility also influences our self-esteem, the way we regard ourselves. To exercise this virtue, we should extend it to our whole self –our mind, heart, and conduct.
(a) Humility of Mind.
(i) Humility of mind begins with a distrust of self, of our own opinion. Let us make it a habit never to talk–badly or well–about ourselves. If we talk badly of ourselves, we will fall into hypocrisy; only the saints were sincere. If well, we will fall into vanity.
(ii) We must not make a display of our talents; we must use these to be useful, and to serve.
(iii) We must practice intellectual docility, not only by submitting to the official decisions of the Church, but also by heartily accepting pontifical directions; besides God’s assistance, there is greater wisdom in them than in our own judgment.#3
(b) Humility of Heart. This means being satisfied with our situation, accepting any lack of appreciation, neglect, or lack of recognition.#4
(c) External Humility. This should be a reflection of our interior dispositions; of our wish to love our lowliness.#5
Those who have received some gifts from God should acknowledge them, as St Paul says: “For we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit of God, that we may understand what God has freely given us” (1 Cor 2:12).
Concrete Means of Practicing Humility
There are three chief means of arriving at a sincere humility:
(a) To ask God for humility constantly. We must ardently desire it, value it, and ask God for it.
(b) To look at Christ, the incomparable model of humility. To imitate Christ, we must foster docility in resolutely carrying out the advice received in spiritual direction; joyfully receive fraternal correction; thankfully accept humiliation in silence for love of God; and obey quickly and wholeheartedly.#6
(c) To imitate Mary, the Queen of the humble. Imitating Jesus and Mary, we will exercise charity in continual details of service to others. With her support, we will be able to live humility of heart in relation to God, our neighbor, and ourselves.#7
Humility and Charity
Charity is the motor of humility; it gives humility its right orientation.
Humility is the foundation of all virtues; without it, no virtue can exist. There is no sanctity in a person who does not fight to be humble; there is no genuine human personality in that man.
Moreover, humility is the root of charity. Humility creates like an interior void, then charity comes and fills the soul. Since love always tends to an end, without humility it would be directed to self. Only if we forget about ourselves can we be concerned with and care for the others. Many points that show a lack of charity can be traced to subtle or not-so-subtle forms of vanity, pride, egoism, and desires of dominating other people –which ultimately betrays a lack of humility.
Pride–lack of humility–is also the great obstacle to charity. It is often manifested in touchiness; touchiness leads to grudges; grudges lead to coldness or quarrels.
Charity and humility are the drive forces of our interior life. Like the foundations of a building, humility lies at the base; like the roof, charity is at the top; and all the other virtues revolve around them. To grow in sanctity, we have to grow strong in these two virtues; then, it will be easy to acquire the others. “Humility and charity are the mother-virtues; all other virtues come after them as chicks follow the hen.”#8
Jesus is the example of charity and humility. No one ever had an equal dignity; no one ever served all as he did: “I am in your midst like a servant.”#9
Humility and Other Virtues
All the other virtues are related to humility, but most especially cheerfulness, obedience, chastity, the desire of beginning again, understanding, simplicity, kindness, and magnanimity.#10
Among the fruits of humility are a profound peace, even in the midst of weaknesses and defects; a wisdom that understands all things and refers them to God; and, externally, abundant apostolic fruits.#11
A humble person easily makes friends.
The Opposite Vices
The vices opposed to humility are:
(a) Pride, a disorderly desire for one’s excellence.
Egoism and pride are vices contrary to humility. Egoism is the exclusive preference of one’s own activities and needs to those of other persons and things. Pride is a false appraisal of one’s own qualities, and a disorderly desire of personal glory. Pride is the “root and mother” of all sins, even of the capital ones; it is the greatest obstacle man can pose to grace.#12
(b) Inordinate self-depreciation. Also on the opposite side of humility is inordinate self-depreciation, which leads man to faintheartedness, and lack of courage and resolution –a caricature of humility. It also leads to laziness in acquiring due knowledge.#13
Humility makes us aware of the talents we have received and of our responsibility to make them bear fruit, and of our divine filiation. These two urge us to carry out heroic tasks in the service of God; thus, daring and fortitude are related to humility.
FOOTNOTES:
1. Refer to chapter 16 for quotations on humility toward God.
2. Refer to chapter 17 for quotations on humility toward neighbor.
3. Refer to chapter 18 for quotations on this matter.
4. Refer to chapter 19 for quotations on this matter.
5. Refer to chapter 20 for quotations on this matter.
6. Refer to chapter 14 for quotations on our Lord’s example of humility.
7. Refer to chapter 15 for quotations on our Lady’s humility.
8. St Francis of Sales, Letter.
9. Refer to chapter 17 for quotations on humility and charity.
10. Refer to chapter 20 for quotations on humility and other virtues; p. 000 for quotations on magnanimity.
11. See p. 000 for quotations on the fruits of humility.
12. Refer to chapter 10 for quotations on this matter.
13. Refer to chapter 11 for quotations on this matter.
(a) before God;
(b) before other men; and
(c) with regard to ourselves.
Once we know our situation, we should act accordingly, imitating Jesus Christ and wisely controlling our desires for personal glory.
Humility in Relation to God
The practice of humility implies our reverence and subjection to God; it has the following manifestations:
(a) Piety toward God. Once we become aware that we are children of God, the logical consequence is for us to render him adoration and submission. The following aspiration reflects a humble piety toward God: “Only you are holy”, “Not unto us, Lord, not unto us, but unto your Name give glory,” Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam (Ps 113:1).
(b) Gratefulness: “Lord, take all I have and cherish; you have given me all I have.” “We give thanks, Almighty God, for all your benefits.”
c) Sense of dependence upon God. We come from nothing –“from the dust of the soil;” we cannot do anything of our own, either in the natural order –God keeps the world in being– or in the supernatural order –“without Me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:15). Hence, our absolute dependence on God. The acknowledgment of our nothingness must lead us to rely on God for everything. Consider thus:
(i) How ridiculous it is to boast of our lineage and “connections”; we come from nothing.
(ii) How foolish it is to bask in our alleged qualities and achievements. At the level of being, we are nothing; at the level of action, we can do nothing without God.
(iii) What a great lie pride is. Only humility is truth.#1
Humility in Relation to Our Neighbors
We must appreciate the many gifts our neighbors have received from God. Considering what we have that is truly ours (our sins), we must be grateful to God and esteem our neighbors.
We also have been enriched with gifts and graces from God; we are God’s instruments on the crossroads of the world. Thus, for God’s sake, we should humble ourselves and serve the others with our work and loyal friendship. In relation to our neighbors, we should follow these guidelines:
(a) Without envy or jealousy, to appreciate the natural and supernatural gifts God has given them.
(b) Not to gloat over our neighbors’ defects; rather, to excuse them with charity; at least, to concede our neighbors’ good intentions; to correct them if we are in a position of authority. We should offer them our sincere friendship, pray for their conversion, and –if advisable– help them with fraternal correction.
(c) To consider ourselves inferior, because of our poor correspondence to grace. One should think: Anyone else who could have received all the graces God has given me, would have been more faithful to God.
(d) Humility is not indecision, a waiving of our rights in order to avoid friction with anybody and become acceptable to all. It is rather the profound conviction that God is our Father and uses us as his instruments; thus, at times we must demand from others. To follow Christ is to reach the fullness of human and supernatural maturity to which each Christian has been called. Since the sanctity of a lay person revolves around his work, we must seek prestige and status in our profession, but gaining it in honest competition with our colleagues.
(e) We need humility to realize what aspects of our conduct are not pleasing to God and to the others; and to correct these faults. We must forget ourselves and concentrate on making life pleasant for those who live or work with us. If we have a genuine affection for the others, we will overcome any friction arising from differences in character. Thus, we will bring to our family life the flavor of charity and the warmth of a Christian home.
We should also consider that our neighbors have some virtues we lack; or that we have some vices the neighbors do not have. Thus, we humbly submit ourselves to the others.#2
Humility in Relation to Ourselves
Humility also influences our self-esteem, the way we regard ourselves. To exercise this virtue, we should extend it to our whole self –our mind, heart, and conduct.
(a) Humility of Mind.
(i) Humility of mind begins with a distrust of self, of our own opinion. Let us make it a habit never to talk–badly or well–about ourselves. If we talk badly of ourselves, we will fall into hypocrisy; only the saints were sincere. If well, we will fall into vanity.
(ii) We must not make a display of our talents; we must use these to be useful, and to serve.
(iii) We must practice intellectual docility, not only by submitting to the official decisions of the Church, but also by heartily accepting pontifical directions; besides God’s assistance, there is greater wisdom in them than in our own judgment.#3
(b) Humility of Heart. This means being satisfied with our situation, accepting any lack of appreciation, neglect, or lack of recognition.#4
(c) External Humility. This should be a reflection of our interior dispositions; of our wish to love our lowliness.#5
Those who have received some gifts from God should acknowledge them, as St Paul says: “For we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit of God, that we may understand what God has freely given us” (1 Cor 2:12).
Concrete Means of Practicing Humility
There are three chief means of arriving at a sincere humility:
(a) To ask God for humility constantly. We must ardently desire it, value it, and ask God for it.
(b) To look at Christ, the incomparable model of humility. To imitate Christ, we must foster docility in resolutely carrying out the advice received in spiritual direction; joyfully receive fraternal correction; thankfully accept humiliation in silence for love of God; and obey quickly and wholeheartedly.#6
(c) To imitate Mary, the Queen of the humble. Imitating Jesus and Mary, we will exercise charity in continual details of service to others. With her support, we will be able to live humility of heart in relation to God, our neighbor, and ourselves.#7
Humility and Charity
Charity is the motor of humility; it gives humility its right orientation.
Humility is the foundation of all virtues; without it, no virtue can exist. There is no sanctity in a person who does not fight to be humble; there is no genuine human personality in that man.
Moreover, humility is the root of charity. Humility creates like an interior void, then charity comes and fills the soul. Since love always tends to an end, without humility it would be directed to self. Only if we forget about ourselves can we be concerned with and care for the others. Many points that show a lack of charity can be traced to subtle or not-so-subtle forms of vanity, pride, egoism, and desires of dominating other people –which ultimately betrays a lack of humility.
Pride–lack of humility–is also the great obstacle to charity. It is often manifested in touchiness; touchiness leads to grudges; grudges lead to coldness or quarrels.
Charity and humility are the drive forces of our interior life. Like the foundations of a building, humility lies at the base; like the roof, charity is at the top; and all the other virtues revolve around them. To grow in sanctity, we have to grow strong in these two virtues; then, it will be easy to acquire the others. “Humility and charity are the mother-virtues; all other virtues come after them as chicks follow the hen.”#8
Jesus is the example of charity and humility. No one ever had an equal dignity; no one ever served all as he did: “I am in your midst like a servant.”#9
Humility and Other Virtues
All the other virtues are related to humility, but most especially cheerfulness, obedience, chastity, the desire of beginning again, understanding, simplicity, kindness, and magnanimity.#10
Among the fruits of humility are a profound peace, even in the midst of weaknesses and defects; a wisdom that understands all things and refers them to God; and, externally, abundant apostolic fruits.#11
A humble person easily makes friends.
The Opposite Vices
The vices opposed to humility are:
(a) Pride, a disorderly desire for one’s excellence.
Egoism and pride are vices contrary to humility. Egoism is the exclusive preference of one’s own activities and needs to those of other persons and things. Pride is a false appraisal of one’s own qualities, and a disorderly desire of personal glory. Pride is the “root and mother” of all sins, even of the capital ones; it is the greatest obstacle man can pose to grace.#12
(b) Inordinate self-depreciation. Also on the opposite side of humility is inordinate self-depreciation, which leads man to faintheartedness, and lack of courage and resolution –a caricature of humility. It also leads to laziness in acquiring due knowledge.#13
Humility makes us aware of the talents we have received and of our responsibility to make them bear fruit, and of our divine filiation. These two urge us to carry out heroic tasks in the service of God; thus, daring and fortitude are related to humility.
FOOTNOTES:
1. Refer to chapter 16 for quotations on humility toward God.
2. Refer to chapter 17 for quotations on humility toward neighbor.
3. Refer to chapter 18 for quotations on this matter.
4. Refer to chapter 19 for quotations on this matter.
5. Refer to chapter 20 for quotations on this matter.
6. Refer to chapter 14 for quotations on our Lord’s example of humility.
7. Refer to chapter 15 for quotations on our Lady’s humility.
8. St Francis of Sales, Letter.
9. Refer to chapter 17 for quotations on humility and charity.
10. Refer to chapter 20 for quotations on humility and other virtues; p. 000 for quotations on magnanimity.
11. See p. 000 for quotations on the fruits of humility.
12. Refer to chapter 10 for quotations on this matter.
13. Refer to chapter 11 for quotations on this matter.