How to practice Humility?

[nuntym]

+JMJ+

I think you are right to point out both strengths and weaknesses. It is a false humility, after all, that only says things such as “I am worthless.” True humility acknowledges the truth, good as well as bad, and recognizes the true origin of the good in God. I went looking for a familiar C.S. Lewis passage about this, and found a wonderful missive from an Orthodox archpriest that also includes the Lewis passage.

In connection with the humus point, I think it can be a good exercise to give some thought to soil. Good soil is receptive and nurturing, a servant to the farmer, and this is how it produces fruit. In this connection think of Jesus’ parable of the sower in Matthew 13.

In the sacraments, some of the most common things of the earth are transformed into powerful channels of grace-- water, oil, bread, wine. These were not rare and extraordinary elements in themselves, but everyday things, readily at hand, put into the service of God.

In Christianity, God himself is the perfect example of humility. Though he is Supreme by nature-- omnipotent, omniscient, and so forth-- he is a servant to all in love. From assuming human nature as a tiny, helpless embryo to pouring himself out in death to becoming our food, God demonstrates perfect humility.

I am only one, but I am one.
I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
What I can do, I should do.
And what I should do, by the grace of God, I will do.

Edward Everett Hale

 

[Robert_Sock]

Reading and fulfilling The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis. It seems that everything in this book promoted humility one way or another. The chapters are small and packed full of good meditations promoting humility.

 

[Chantal25]

from Sister Faustina Diary

faustina-message.com/diary-saint-sister-faustina.htm

“True greatness of the soul is in loving God and in humility” (Diary 427).

“As the soul continues to immerse itself more deeply into the abyss of its nothingness and need, God uses His omnipotence to exalt it. If there is a truly happy soul upon earth, it can only be a truly humble soul. At first, one’s self-love suffers greatly on this account, but after a soul has struggled courageously, God grants it much light by which it sees how wretched and full of deception everything is” (Diary 593).

“The floodgates of heaven are open to a humble soul, and a sea of graces flows down upon it (…). God refuses nothing to such a soul; it is all-powerful and influences the destiny of the whole world. God raises such a soul up to very throne, and the more
it humbles itself, the more God stoops down to it, pursuing it with His graces and accompanying it at every moment with His omnipotence” (Diary 1306).

“God, who is Light itself, lives in a pure and humble heart, and all sufferings and adversities serve but to reveal the soul’s holiness” (Diary 573).

**"…Humility is nothing but the truth. **There is no cringing in the true humility. Although
I consider myself the least (…). I enjoy the honor of being the beloved of Christ"
(Diary 1502).

“O my Jesus, You know what efforts are needed to live sincerely and unaffectedly with those from whom our nature flees, or with those who, deliberately or not, have made us suffer. Humanly speaking, this is impossible. At such times more than at others, I try to discover the Lord Jesus in such a person and for this same Jesus, I do everything for such people. In such acts, love is pure, and such practice of love gives the soul endurance and strength. I do not expect anything from creatures, and therefore I am not disappointed…” (Diary 766).

“Jesus, my most perfect model, with my eyes fixed on You, I will go through life in Your footsteps, adapting nature to grace, according to Your most holy will and Your light which illumines my soul, trusting completely in Your help” (Diary 1351).

---

“This firm resolution to become a saint is extremely pleasing to Me. I bless your efforts and will give you opportunities to sanctify yourself. Be watchful that you lose no opportunity that My providence offers you for sanctification. If you do not succeed in taking advantage of an opportunity, do not lose your peace, but humble yourself profoundly before Me and, with great trust, immerse yourself completely in My mercy.
In this way, you gain more than you have lost, because more favor is granted
to a humble soul than the soul itself asks for…” (Diary 1361).

“I seek and desire souls like yours but they are few. Your great trust in Me forces Me to continuously grant you graces” (Diary 718).

"…Let three virtues adorn you in a particular way; humility, purity of intention and love" (Diary 1779).

“I want to hold you in My hand as a pliant tool, perfectly adapted to the completion of My works” (Diary 1359).

“I demand of you a perfect and whole-burnt offering; an offering of the will. No other sacrifice can compare with this one. I myself am directing your life and arranging things in such a way that you will be for Me a continual sacrifice and will always do My will. And for the accomplishment of this offering, you will unite yourself with Me on the Cross. I myself will give you many orders directly, but I will delay the possibility of their being carried out and make it depend on others (…) but know, My daughter, that this offering will last until your death.” (Diary 923).

“Outwardly, your sacrifice must look like this: silent, hidden, permeated with love, imbued with prayer. I demand, My daughter, that your sacrifice be pure and full of humility, that I may find pleasure in it (…). You shall accept all sufferings with love.
Do not be afflicted if your heart often experiences repugnance and dislike for sacrifice. All its power rests in the will, and so these contrary feelings, far from lowering the value of the sacrifice in My eyes, will enhance it” (Diary 1767).

“…every conversion of a sinful soul demands sacrifice” (Diary 961).

“…I need sacrifice lovingly accomplished, because that alone has meaning for Me. Enormous indeed are the debts of the world which are due to Me; pure souls can pay them by their sacrifice, exercising mercy in spirit” (Diary 1316).

“…but write this for the many souls who are often worried because they do not have the material means with which to carry out an act of mercy. Yet spiritual mercy, which requires neither permissions nor storehouses, is much more meritorious and is within the grasp of every soul. If a soul does not exercise mercy somehow or other, it will not obtain My mercy on the day of judgment. Oh, if only souls knew how to gather eternal treasure for themselves, they would not be judged, for they would forestall My judgment with their mercy” (Diary 1317).