Mother Teresa's Humility List?

[Clevus]

Right off I would like to say I have no issues with Mother Teresa. I could not remain in my Order if that were true, but on occasion I do have questions. Number one in the humility list is puzzling to me in the context of the other listed items, so I would like your perspective on it.

 Being familiar I feel is important to our human relationships in the human environment. Friendship and avoidance, and indeed the Books of Wisdom are so much dependent on what we know of others. It helps us to determine our individual quirks and dislikes in this world. Even the most damaging cases our Lord desires us to become involved and handle such things appropriately. The option is not exclusion or non-involvement. I have friends that are not perfect and I know their shortcomings. A couple would be a bad influence if I were not aware of their bad habits or "baggage". Do they warrant my avoidance? No. Because I have come to learn of their habits and their exposure to me I press to make sure is beneficial to them. Their consequences to their acts help me build my perfection by my not repeating errors. Somehow in spite of not measuring up in certain areas, I am fond of them in their own unique ways.

 I can not envision myself living in a cloistered environment where in spite of my attempts to "reveal as little about myself as possible" that eventually the conglomerate slip ups would eventually allow my group to frame a picture of true me. The occasional slip on the phone to my parents, or a gesture of annoyance at some thing, a letter from a disgruntled group known to live for contention, some credit card company, etc. Perhaps after the day is through and the rest period in the leisure hours of the lounge and in song would have me drop my guard surrounded by such caring people.

I ask myself how I can perfect my virtues that call for bettering the faults of the states of my brothers and sisters if I restrict myself from knowing about them?. List 1 carried to the extreme would have us experience no further than an introduction phase of courteous and protected phrases on every meeting. Every utterance would need to be passed through a mental word measuring/context process. A conversation would be marked by jumps and starts and periods of awkwardness. No permanent relaxing "letting go" could be had in such a place.

I don’t believe this is the case in cloistered or close knit religious environments. I think after decades, or at least years in close social proximity,Sister X comes to be familiar with Sister Y’s health of her mother. Or Sister P’s annoyance at broken shoelaces or poor fitting shoes, whatever. MGM’s “Going my Way” has Father O’Malley’s Alma Mata buddy going to a regular golf game with his close friend.

So for me I need a broader expansion of #1, what it is meant to prevent and what is it’s intended positive effects in the long and short term in our overall mission. Perhaps it’s temporary. The rest would seem to be hindered in an environment where 1 is taken to the extreme. The way I read it it is saying to be reserved in all things, do not reveal anything about yourself. An automaton is not part of my nature, I’m basically an extrovert, and I admit sometimes, to a fault,Ha! But I think in this world well intended, but occasionally erring, extroverts are needed.

Thanks

 

[Gertabelle]

Please forgive me, but your post is confusing to me. Do you have a specific question you are asking?

 

[Irishmom2]

What is her humility list?

 

[sudy]

I had to google the list as I’d never heard of it, either.

I believe she’s referring to not thinking about herself, but rather, putting others before herself.

Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 20:26-27 It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave.
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourself.
Proverbs 2:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth.
Proverb 16:19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the rich.

Basically she was not talking about making friendships, she was trying to do the will of the Lord …feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, the suffering, the dying … pretty much all of those in need.

catholiccompany.com/getfed/mother-teresas-humility-list/

 

[Dcn_Terry]

Right off I would like to say I have no issues with Mother Teresa. I could not remain in my Order if that were true, but on occasion I do have questions. Number one in the humility list is puzzling to me in the context of the other listed items, so I would like your perspective on it.

 Being familiar I feel is important to our human relationships in the human environment. Friendship and avoidance, and indeed the Books of Wisdom are so much dependent on what we know of others. It helps us to determine our individual quirks and dislikes in this world. Even the most damaging cases our Lord desires us to become involved and handle such things appropriately. The option is not exclusion or non-involvement. I have friends that are not perfect and I know their shortcomings. A couple would be a bad influence if I were not aware of their bad habits or "baggage". Do they warrant my avoidance? No. Because I have come to learn of their habits and their exposure to me I press to make sure is beneficial to them. Their consequences to their acts help me build my perfection by my not repeating errors. Somehow in spite of not measuring up in certain areas, I am fond of them in their own unique ways.

 I can not envision myself living in a cloistered environment where in spite of my attempts to "reveal as little about myself as possible" that eventually the conglomerate slip ups would eventually allow my group to frame a picture of true me. The occasional slip on the phone to my parents, or a gesture of annoyance at some thing, a letter from a disgruntled group known to live for contention, some credit card company, etc. Perhaps after the day is through and the rest period in the leisure hours of the lounge and in song would have me drop my guard surrounded by such caring people.

I ask myself how I can perfect my virtues that call for bettering the faults of the states of my brothers and sisters if I restrict myself from knowing about them?. List 1 carried to the extreme would have us experience no further than an introduction phase of courteous and protected phrases on every meeting. Every utterance would need to be passed through a mental word measuring/context process. A conversation would be marked by jumps and starts and periods of awkwardness. No permanent relaxing "letting go" could be had in such a place.

I don’t believe this is the case in cloistered or close knit religious environments. I think after decades, or at least years in close social proximity,Sister X comes to be familiar with Sister Y’s health of her mother. Or Sister P’s annoyance at broken shoelaces or poor fitting shoes, whatever. MGM’s “Going my Way” has Father O’Malley’s Alma Mata buddy going to a regular golf game with his close friend.

So for me I need a broader expansion of #1, what it is meant to prevent and what is it’s intended positive effects in the long and short term in our overall mission. Perhaps it’s temporary. The rest would seem to be hindered in an environment where 1 is taken to the extreme. The way I read it it is saying to be reserved in all things, do not reveal anything about yourself. An automaton is not part of my nature, I’m basically an extrovert, and I admit sometimes, to a fault,Ha! But I think in this world well intended, but occasionally erring, extroverts are needed.

Thanks

This is the first I have ever heard of her humility list, but after looking it over it seems to me she is saying don’t brag or call undue attention to yourself. We are here to love and be at the service of others, not ourselves. That does not mean you can’t step in and help some one by telling them a little about yourself if it is appropriate to the situation. If someone is having a hard time dealing with something, say the death or illness of a loved one or the loss of a job or home and you have had a similar experience, you could share in that persons sorrow and offer them comfort by telling them some of what you went through in your experience. As long as you do it with love and compassion and not to put yourself on a pedestal, I see no conflict with here first point and with telling someone something about yourself. Humility does not mean we think less of ourselves, it means we think of ourselves less.

 

[Clevus]

Thanks all.