Once Humility is Acquired

“Once humility is acquired, charity will come to life like a burning flame.”  St. Vincent Ferrer

Sometimes we are not so humble. We can easily be filled with pride in our accomplishments. I see videos and postings on social media that are contrary to what we are taught as Catholics. Recently, I have been following Pope Leo’s trip to Turkey. In his speech at the Latin Cathedral of Holy Spirit, he reminded the tiny flock that God’s ways are little ways. Ste. Therese of Lisieux said the same and often we do the opposite. Where I live, there are often huge projects that are announced, thinking that the larger the scheme, the more productive and grandiose the impressions will be. I have been getting quotes on some renovations and even in those renovations are constant designs that make my head spin. The recent trend in design is minimalism. I wonder how long that will last.

“If you are humble, nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are.” St. Teresa of Calcutta

Today we remember St. Catherine Labore. She was forced to take over the running of her home at a young age when her mother died. She worked as a waitress. Her visions led to the devotion of the Miraculous Medal. St. Joseph Cottolengo became a priest in Turin. At one point he heard the confession of a woman before she gave birth and he baptized her child. Both died and he realized that medical care – the practical – were very important to the spiritual life. It is all very important because life is not compartmentalized in the way we want. Everything is connected. St. Joseph opened his own hospital in the 1800s and his followers began caring for others.

“Remember that true humility consists in being ready for what the Lord wants to do with you and happy that we should do it, and in considering yourselves unworthy to be called His servants.” St. Teresa of Avila:  The Way of Perfection

I often read in earnest about what Pope Leo says. He is so simple and tears filled his eyes when he entered the Cathedral in Istanbul. He has welled up before according to the press releases. His high position in world, for me, illustrates his humility in front of all this. His text given in Turkey also struck me because he reminded us of all our ‘littleness’ in front of reality. How often do we forget this? Probably all the time. We need to be reminded often that life is fragile. We need to continue to live with an awareness.

“When we look with God’s eyes, we discover that he has chosen the way of littleness, descending into our midst. This is the way of the Lord, to which we are all called to bear witness.” Pope Leo XIV