14 April 2013 Christian humility This supernatural virtue is unique because it comes from above. It recognizes the difference between Greek ‘eros’ where the human tends upwardly toward the Divine and Christian ‘agape’ where the Divine stoops down toward us. Humility governs our relationship to God and neighbor. The Incarnation struck at the indigence and arrogant pride of our humanity in allowing the God-Man to suffer exile, persecution and death to relieve that poverty. Utterly sinless, Christ showed on Calvary how sinners should live humility. Not a creature as we are, but He submitted to the Will of the Father in everything and became our model of humility. Humility opens us to the grace of God to better resist temptations. The foundation of prayer and the spiritual life, humility facilitates discipleship and imitation of Christ. It is also a natural virtue which opposes pride, arrogance and vanity, the roots of all evil. Humility promotes an upright conscience; leads to prudence, astuteness and thoughtfulness. Ref: “Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia”, 1991, 490-91 Recourse to Our Blessed Mother Sin, infidelity to a greater or lesser degree, always involves a denial of Christ and of the highest ideals he has sown inside us. Sin is the great downfall of man. Thus, we must struggle with determination, counting on grace, so that we avoid all grave sins — of weakness or malice — and then all deliberate venial sin. Even from our sins, when we unfortunately commit them, we must draw advantage, because contrition strengthens the bond of friendship with Our Lord. Heaven is full of repentant great sinners. Jesus always welcomes us and rejoices to see us back on the road we had abandoned, perhaps in trivial matters. Linked to Christ, repentance becomes a joyous sorrow because a lost friendship is regained. Peter is instantly united to Our Lord and much closer than he had ever been, because of sorrow for his denials. We need to awaken frequently in our hearts a sorrow born out of Love, for the sins we have committed especially on examining our conscience at the end of each day; and when we prepare for Confession. “You who tend to lose heart, I will tell you something very consoling: when a person does what he can, God will not deny his grace. Our Lord is a Father, and if, in the silence of his heart, one of his sons says to him: ‘My Father in Heaven, here I am, help me ...’ If he goes to the Mother of God, ... our Mother, he will get through.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way of the Cross”, Tenth Station, 3) Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:254-5, 258 Practising the virtue of humility An essential condition for holiness is learning to forget about ourselves. In this way, we are able to see God as our absolute Good, and to think about others. Together with prayer, the first means we must always use, we should also practise the virtue at work, in family life, when we are alone ... always. We ought to exert every effort not to be too concerned with our health, our rest; whether people think well of us and regard us sufficiently. We must try to minimize talking about ourselves, of whatever can possibly put us in a good light. We should avoid curiosity, the desire to know everything and to let everyone know we know it. Patiently, with good humour, we will accept difficulties and offer them up joyfully as sacrifices to God. We shall not insist on our own point of view unless the truth or justice demands it, and even then we shall be moderate while remaining firm. We shall overlook the mistakes of others; find excuses for them and in all charity assist them to overcome their failings. We will accept corrections even if these seem unfair, and yield on appropriate occasions to other people’s opinions when charity or duty is not at stake. We will avoid displaying our good qualities, possessions, knowledge or experience. Mary, as the “Handmaid of the Lord”, has shown us how to practise the virtue of humility. “We turn to her, since she is the Mother of both mercy and tenderness, and no one has ever gone to her in vain. Cast yourself with confidence into her maternal embrace; ask her to obtain for you this virtue she esteemed so highly.” ... (J Pecci [Pope Leo XIII], “The practice of humility”, pp85-6) Ref: Cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 3:296-8 Our Lady “Most Sweet Heart of Mary, prepare a safe way. Guide our steps on earth with strength and security. Become for us the path we are to follow, since you in your love know the way, a sure short-cut to the love of Jesus Christ.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 178) Resolutions — Make this firm and determined resolution: to recall, when you receive honors and praise, everything that brings you shame and embarassment. The shame and embarassment are yours; the praise and the glory are God’s. (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 252) The Christian Apostolate St John has recorded a wonderful phrase by our Lady. At Cana she told the waiters: “Do whatever he tells you.” (Jn 2:5) It’s all about getting people to face Jesus and ask him: “Lord what do you want me to do?” (Acts 9:6) The christian apostolate — about an ordinary Christian living as just one more man or woman among equals — is a great work of teaching. Through real, personal, loyal friendship, you create in others a hunger for God and you help them to discover new horizons: naturally, simply. With the example of your faith lived to the full, with a loving word which is full of the force of divine truth. Ref: Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 149 • Apparition of Our Lady to St Ludwina, in the year 1433. — John Brnshman. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Apparition of Our Lady to St. Ludwina (1433). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Apparition of Mary to St. Ludivina. 1433. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of Guam (1825). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html) • Our Lady of Guam. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)