Humility
Humility is another good way to arrive at interior peace. He has said so: 'Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart: and you will find rest for your souls.' (The Way, 607)
Prayer is the humility of the man who acknowledges his profound wretchedness and the greatness of God. He addresses and adores God as one who expects everything from Him and nothing from himself.
Faith is the humility of the mind which renounces its own judgement and surrenders to the verdict and authority of the Church.
Obedience is the humility of the will which subjects itself to the will of another, for God's sake.
Chastity is the humility of the flesh, which subjects itself to the spirit.
Exterior mortification is the humility of the senses.
Penance is the humility of all the passions, immolated to the Lord.
Humility is truth on the road of the ascetic struggle. (Furrow, 259)
Humility, Christian self-examination, begins with recognising God's gift. It is something quite distinct from shrugging one's shoulders at the way things are going. And it has nothing to do with a sense of futility or discouragement in the face of history. In one's personal life, and sometimes also in the life of associations or institutions, there may be things which have to change, perhaps a lot of things. But the attitude with which a Christian should face these problems should be, above all, one of amazement at the greatness of the works of God, compared with the littleness of man. (Conversations with Monsignor Escriva de Balaguer, 72, 4)
Allow me to remind you that among other evident signs of a lack of humility are:
Thinking that what you do or say is better than what others do or say;
Always wanting to get your own way;
Arguing when you are not right or � when you are � insisting stubbornly or with bad manners;
Giving your opinion without being asked for it, when charity does not demand you to do so;
Despising the point of view of others;
Not being aware that all the gifts and qualities you have are on loan;
Not acknowledging that you are unworthy of all honour or esteem, even the ground you are treading on or the things you own;
Mentioning yourself as an example in conversation;
Speaking badly about yourself, so that they may form a good opinion of you, or contradict you;
Making excuses when rebuked;
Hiding some humiliating faults from your director, so that he may not lose the good opinion he has of you;
Hearing praise with satisfaction, or being glad that others have spoken well of you;
Being hurt that others are held in greater esteem than you;
Refusing to carry out menial tasks;
Seeking or wanting to be singled out;
Letting drop words of self-praise in conversation, or words that might show your honesty, your wit or skill, your professional prestige ... ;
Being ashamed of not having certain possessions ... (Furrow, 263)
Father, you told me, I have committed many errors, I have made so many mistakes.
I know, I replied. But God Our Lord, who also knows all that and has taken it into account, only asks you to be humble enough to admit it and asks that you struggle to make amends, so as to serve him better each day with more interior life, with continual prayer and with piety, and making use of the proper means to sanctify your work. (The Forge, 379)
St. Josemaria pray unto God for us!
In His great mercy,
+Fr. Gregory
