This was written by Fr. Ignacio Larranaga, a Spanish priest who teaches a Bible study by interpreter as he speaks only Spanish. I'm going to hear him tonight at a lecture but I wanted to share this with you, I found it breathtaking. The Grace of Humility Lord Jesus, meek and humble. From the dust I feel controlled by thie unquenchable thirst to be admired. The need to be loved by others oppresses me. My heart is full of impossible dreams. I crave for redemption. My God, have mercy. I simply cannot forgive; Resentment consumes me, Criticism hurts me, Failure devastates me, rivalry frightens me. My heart is conceited. Give me the grace of humility, my Lord, gentle and meek of heart. I do not know the origin of this insane appetite To impose my will, to eliminate any rival, to Consent to vengeance. I do what I do not want To do. Have mercy, Lord, and give me the grace Of humility. Enormous chains encircle my heart; this heart Subdues and takes over all that I am and all that I do, everthing that surrounds me. And these Appropriations generate so many fears in me. Poor me, owner of myself, who will break my chains? Your grace, my poor and humble Lord. Give me the Grace of Humility. The grace to forgive with all my heart. The grace To accept criticism and contradictions, or at least The grace to doubt myself when I am corrected. Give me the grace of self-criticism. The grace to remain undisturbed by scorn, By neglect, and indifference; to feel happiness In being unknown; to discourage feelings, words, And actions of self-satisfaction. Lord, open free spaces in me so that they may be Filled by you and my brothers and sisters. Then, my Lord Jesus Christ, give me the grace to Acquire and unattached and open heart like yours; A meek and patient heart. Christ Jesus, gentle and Meek, make my heart like yours. Amen.
Thanks, Lee! The above is exactly my problem. I long for such a grace! Every once in awhile I'll get very preturbed when no one on the forum grasps the brilliance of my post! :roll: Wouldn't you know it! Last night I went to an Evening of Reflection which included a meditation, a talk, and Holy Mass. Fr. Edward gave a fantastic instruction on the humility of Christ ( ...and you thought the Holy Spirit was busy on the West Coast only? :lol: ) Today in my prayer, I 've been contemplating the humility of Jesus when he washed the feet of the apostles at the Last Supper. Some beautiful insights have come as I imagine the moment of Jesus washing Judas' feet! To consider Our Lord as he humbly and lovingly serves his soon-to-be betrayer! Your quote finished with the following: Then, my Lord Jesus Christ, give me the grace to Acquire and unattached and open heart like yours; A meek and patient heart. Christ Jesus, gentle and Meek, make my heart like yours. Amen!
Mario, first let me say, we ALWAYS get the brilliance of your posts, you are a gift to us and a delight to read. But I found this Grace of Humility hit me in so many places I quit counting. There's just so much work to be done. I've just discovered the Evening of Reflection here in Northern California and plan on attending the next one.It's very encouraging to hear your about your discovery through it. The Holy Spirit is busy at work, Praise God.
Maybe that's what the mouse is here to tell me...to be like a little mouse, now there's a sign. This is my problem too. I like it when people "know" what I've done, or what I'm doing, why is it we always look for approval, for praise, for recognition, for that pat on the back. We look for it even at church, we look for it from Jesus and from Mary. How do we fix this part of our human nature? Oh geez, now I'm feeling sorry for that little mouse...wish I could catch it before my kitty does and set it free outside. I know Padraig, you used the Rat as a bad symbol, eating away at the Church and its foundation. But not so the timid (or not-so-timid) little mouse...telling me to check myself...to remember that even a tiny thing such as him can outwit me. A lesson in humility, and a reminder that we are nothing more...than a tiny mouse in the big house of God, and we should remember that. Okay, I am getting goofy now, I really should go to bed.
Beautiful posts on humility. I heard a lovely scripture reading on Sunday, which has been following me around all week, as such things sometimes too, when they find a little crack in the heart to blow in: “Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness, in your compassion blot out my offence. O wash me more and more from my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. A pure heart create for me, O God, put a steadfast spirit within me.” You know there are only two graces I am really afraid to pray for. One is the The Cross The second is humility. Why fear to ask humility? Well the only way it can be given is for our hearts to be crushed at least a little, a very, very painful thing indeed. So I admit I am afraid, I am very afraid of humility. Its one of those things, like the Cross I kind of leave to Our Lady. I say to her, yes I need humilty my Mother but please, please, not to much at the one go, go easy. As far as humilty goes, learning it I am like a little baby who has just felt an elephant step on his nose. Its a really basic thing humility, for without it we are like a leakey bucket and all the grace would run away, for any grace God gave us we would steal for ourselves. So we must get the leakey bucket fixed with humility. Ahhhhh but sister humility, how I dread her....
Padraig- take courage! For one thing, you come across as a pretty humble fella. For another, I think it requires humility to admit that you fear humility. Besides, who among us does not need to be a little more humble!
Amen, amen, amen! We all need to be humbled big time, grandemente as they say in Spanish. How will we ever be of real service to others if we are not? God is busy making sure I get my fair dose of getting crushed lately. He's been busy ripping things right out of my hands and heart. But as Padraig says we are so much better for it, to which I agree, but sometimes I'm just too short sighted (and a coward ) to see that. Fear of pain I'm finding is always so much greater than the actual pain itself. I had an epiphany with my first cup of coffee today that astounded me, though it was so simple. It was about only trusting God. Simple huh? But what it encompassed was enormous to me. I'm humbled in how generous and patient he is with me...silly me. :roll: Oh Mario, I had to go dance in the kitchen with the gospel music this evening...it was rockin' and of course I thought of you smiling.
Did any of you ever wonder what it mightbe like to wander round a corner and find a group of people discussing us in critical detail? I think the first thing we would find is bewilderment in that we would not at first recognise ourselves in what is being discussed. For always, always the very last person to know is ourselves. Nor will people, generally tell us for they are too afraid, people respond with great aggression to anything they see as the least slight and fall into a great rage. So we all keep quiet. Thats one thing I am very jealous of married people (especially those who have a very good , loving relationship} for, that each spouse can point out to each other in an atmosphere of loving concern (and maybe a bit of bad temper even) each others faults. It seems to me a wonderful gateway through which the Holy SPirit can clamber in. ...and its not one that single folks like myself can find easily. So it leaves us kinda blind. I used to see my mother doing this with my father...and he took it like a lamb, bless him; wheras if anyone else had done so he would have been like a raging tiger.... :lol: I think something like marriage can bring the grace of humility so readily. But I am only looking from the outside in, those of you with some experience will know. As I say I am only an outsider looking in. :roll:
Lee I care for 2 of my grandchildren 2 days a week now. Part of our day is to play music for at least an hour and engage in energetic dancing. We start off with Irish music and the 2 year old and I do some flaky reels and jigs. I finish off with Medjugorje CD and we Dance to that also whilst pointing to a picture of Mary with baby Jesus that is hanging on the wall. I must get some good gospel CD. Its a very uplifting excercise and the gandchildren love it. Luckily we have no near neighbours or I would be considered a little nuts Humility is also something I am a little fearful of asking for but marriage and children do help in the humility stakes. When you have dealt with teenagers you are left with few illusions about yourself. Padraig, having met you, you do emenate humility and sincerety. Its a lifelong battle though. Mary
Mary, what a beautiful way to spend time with the children, and you all enjoy it! I loved the part about a picture of Our Lady being on the wall and dancing and pointing to her....I'm sure she delights in it as well. When you go searching for some gospel start listening to some John P Kee, then some Smoky Norful...that ought to get you moving. I enjoy not only the music which is usually superior but the message is so rock solid, He will find a way, He won't leave you, He's always got you in mind, He is the Rock! Amen? Amen. Lee
My husband is way too supportive in that he never criticises me even when I need it (but I do see it in his eyes). I can't even get him to tell me if an outfit looks bad! I have to criticise myself and then if he doesn't argue I know i've hit the mark. He is a better therapist than I! Getting me to be self-introspective without even saying a word. I can't ever get mad at him! I try but it never lasts. LOL!
The term "humility" comes from the Latin word humilitas, a noun related to the adjective humilis, which may be translated as "humble", but also as "low", "from the earth", or "humid", since it derives in turns from humus (earth). Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Genesis 3: And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. A great number of people have spent a great deal of human and financial resources calculating the composition of, prior to the decomposition of, and the worth, or worthlessness of, the human body. When we total the monetary value of the elements in our bodies and the value of the average person's skin, we arrive at a net worth of $4.50! The U.S. Bureau of Chemistry and Soils invested many a hard-earned tax dollar in calculating the chemical and mineral composition of the human body, which breaks down as follows: 65% Oxygen 18% Carbon 10% Hydrogen 3% Nitrogen 1.5% Calcium 1% Phosphorous 0.35% Potassium 0.25% Sulfur 0.15% Sodium 0.15% Chlorine 0.05% Magnesium 0.0004% Iron 0.00004% Iodine How mighty is God that he would breath his life giving spirit into us creatures - so that we are 'living souls' and capable of being transformed by God's grace from one degree of glory to another: St Paul was a brilliant theologian but difficult [for me!!] to understand: In 1 Corinthians 15 he writes:- So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam [Jesus] a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we[f] bear the likeness of the man from heaven. I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."Where, O death, is your victory?Where, O death, is your sting?"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Psalms 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. Praised be to God!
The first time I read this I was horrified. Since then I've found it is becoming my friend. Quite a process I must admit. God's design for me is to embrace this and He's bringing in all the lessons I need. Litany of Humility O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me. From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being loved... From the desire of being extolled ... From the desire of being honored ... From the desire of being praised ... From the desire of being preferred to others... From the desire of being consulted ... From the desire of being approved ... From the fear of being humiliated ... From the fear of being despised... From the fear of suffering rebukes ... From the fear of being calumniated ... From the fear of being forgotten ... From the fear of being ridiculed ... From the fear of being wronged ... From the fear of being suspected ... That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be esteemed more than I ... That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease ... That others may be chosen and I set aside ... That others may be praised and I unnoticed ... That others may be preferred to me in everything.. . That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should.
Humility... oh the trouble it gives me! One difficulty I have is achieving genuine humility rather than false humility. I slip from one extreme of being quite conceited about my magnificence compared to the mere mortals that surround me, to the other extreme of thinking everyone else is so much more fab in every way compared to me. Settling on the truth seems impossible. Lately I've had the notion that like a lot of things, it's not between me and others, it's between me and God. I find this helps to me realise that yep, compared to him I am just dust. But it also helps me to accept that He's given me some gifts and held others back. And the same goes for other people too. I'm not more than others, I'm not less than others, I'm just me- loved by God despite my imperfections, just like the others are too. Ok guys - am I getting hotter or colder in my quest for humility? All advice will be grudgingly received!
Bartimaeus: Lately I've had the notion that like a lot of things, it's not between me and others, it's between me and God. I find this helps to me realise that yep, compared to him I am just dust. But it also helps me to accept that He's given me some gifts and held others back. And the same goes for other people too. I'm not more than others, I'm not less than others ____ I'd say you are on the money with this. If it's obvious that you have a particular gift, especially if it is very strong and admired by others, it is given to you to build up the body of Christ, the church. It's for others, not yourself, which I think is what you are saying with "it's between me and God".
I have always felt that we should act like royal children of God, with grace and gratitude and good cheer. To keep our heads high and walk with dignity in the world, but yet doing all and any manner of labor for Jesus' sake, no matter how it may discust us or repel us. I always think of St Bernadette or Mother Teresa in examples. They conducted themselves with the grace and dignity of royalty yet lived in dirt and sickness and squalor for Jesus's sake.
I don't know garabandal...I had my chemistry checked and it came out 60 % Sulfer and 40% Doughnut. Am I even human...oh nooooo!!!
I hadn't even thought of the gifts being for the benefit of the Kingdom of God! This notion would help me though- I can acknowledge the gifts without getting attached to them or inflated by them - I like it, thanks!
On the subject of humility I can say I feel very much like you Bartimaeus Over the years I have had some amazing supernatural events occur in my life and at one time believed that this must happen to all people as it was so prolific. However God made me so aware of my nothingness at these times, that in prayer I would be devastated looking at my nothingness and I saw myself as a worm or a cockroach for many years. I believe the suffering God allowed in my life was so hard to comprehend yet the consolations from God were so extraordinary that the rollercoaster of utter extremes really wore me out. To this day I am afraid to relay the graces and experiences I received for fear they may be lost. As a growing child it is difficult at times to feel good about yourself and when these times occurred in my children’s life I would counter them by telling them how special and gifted they were. And yet they also knew that all people are created in God’s image and all are worthy of love and all are precious. I tried to instill a medium where they could feel good about their accomplishments but also good about others accomplishments. I see pride as a type of projected missile hurled at us as we try to walk the tight rope between doing for the glory of God, where God wants us to speak of things and fellowship with others which is edifying and at other times we must remain silent and say I am just a servant and realize our nothingness. Hopefully when we see some good that we have accomplished, we always counter any prideful thought, knowing that it was God who gave us that gift and He could easily take it away.
