Wednesday, October 17, 2007

What the Saints Have to Say about - Humility

faith

It was pride that caused the fall of Lucifer and Adam. If you should ask me what are the ways of God, I would tell you that the first is humility, the second is humility, and the third is still humility. Not that there are no other precepts to give, but if humility does not precede all that we do, our efforts are fruitless.
- St. Augustine of Hippo
I knew nothing; I was nothing. For this reason God picked me out.
- St. Catherine Laboure
In order to banish this plague of vainglory far from my children, I do ask you and their mother and all their friends to sing this song to them, and go on singing it, drive it into their heads that vainglory is despicable and to be spit upon, and that there is nothing more sublime than the humble modesty so often praised by Christ.
- St. Thomas More
Humility is like a pair of scales; the lower one side falls, the higher rises the other. Let us humble ourselves like the Blessed Virgin and we shall be exalted.
- St. John Vianney
True humility does not make a show of itself and hardly speaks in a humble way. It not only wants to conceal all other virtues but most of all it wants to conceal itself. If it were lawful to lie, dissemble, or scandalize our neighbor, humility would perform arrogant, haughty actions so that it might b concealed beneath them and live completely hidden and unknown.
- St. Francis de Sales
Not to feel pleased at being praised is, I am afraid, what has never happend to any man.
- St. John Chrysostom
In order to become an instrument in God's hands we must be of no account in our own eyes.
- St. Angela Merici

8 comments:

Alexandra said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Alexandra said...

Thanks for these. Complete humility is a hard one to maintain in oneself because pride can be so subtle. It sneaks up on you.

Michele said...

very good post!

Simple Faith and Life said...

It seems we never will know if we are humble! LOL Because the minute we think we are, uh, oh! :)

Anyway, thank you, Esther, for sharing all these great quotes!

MM

EC Gefroh said...

So true Alexandra. It's just like MM wrote.
Thanks DM.

Anonymous said...

To me humility means that in and of ourselves we are nothing. It is recognising that every good word, every good deed and every good thing we do has as its Source the Triune Spirit. All is Gift.

We should be mere reflections of the Divine..with the understanding that we are just that a reflection but not the Source.

I love these quotes Esther:) Thankyou

God bless you

Marie

Anonymous said...

PS MM

I always like to say, 'I'm very proud of my humility' LOL Hahahahaa!!!

In fun

Marie

EC Gefroh said...

LOL Marie :-)