Ash Wednesday
“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)
WEDNESDAY, March 2nd Mt 6: 1-6, 16-18 Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.”
We prayed with this article less than a month ago. What if we make this a Lenten Proposal to sincerely and fervently beg Jesus to make our heart more like His by growing in humility using Fr. Ed’s road map!
JESUS MEEK AND HUMBLE OF HEART, MAKE MY HEART LIKE UNTO THINE… by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV
“Jesus meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine.” Though short in words and length, this is one of the most renowned prayers addressed to the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Prayer can be lifted up to the Lord Jesus and contemplated in His Sacred Heart, in any time, any place, any circumstance, and irrespective of our moods, be they good or bad!
As surprising as this may seem, only once does the Lord Jesus describe the characteristics of His most Sacred Heart, to be found in the Gospel of Saint Matthew. The Lord says: “Come to me all of you who find life burdensome and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart…” (Mt 11:28-30)
As baptized Christians all of us, irrespective of age, culture, living circumstances, and even our past life, are challenged to follow in the footsteps of Christ; if you like, the imitation of Christ.
Of all the virtues that Jesus preached, practiced and lived out to the highest degree, charity wins first place. However, the virtue of humility has a very prominent place in the Life of Christ. Humility should be a virtue that characterizes our life’s pattern.
What is humility? The virtue of humility is not easy to define, much less to practice. A working definition for humility might be the following: “A humble person recognizes that all the good he has done and will do comes from God. On the contrary, the humble person recognizes that all the evil he has done is his own doing.” Saint Teresa of Avila will go so far as to define humility in one word: TRUTH! Humility is the truth as to who we are, what we do, and what God sees in us! Saint Teresa of Avila will remind us that humility is walking in the truth.
Saint Augustine, the Doctor of Grace quoted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, has this to say about humility: “Should I know myself, I would know you, O Lord. Only when humans acknowledge their bad news, will they become ready, glad, grateful recipients of the Good News.” (CCC # 2540)
Even the greatest of God’s creation, the Blessed Virgin Mary, endowed with so many graces, acknowledged that all that she had was a pure gift from God. In her Magnificat Mary proclaims: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. The Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his name….” (Lk 1:47,49)Mary attributes all the good that she has and has done to the goodness of God Himself.
Therefore, given that the virtue of humility has such powerful effects on the persons who embrace it and practice it, as well as on those who are in contact with those who are truly humble of heart, let us expound upon ways in which we can attain the virtue of humility.
ROAD-MAP AND SIGNPOST FOR THE VIRTUE OF HUMILITY…
1. BEG FOR THE GRACE.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola in the Spiritual Exercises constantly invites us to imitate the beggars. That is to say: let us beg for the grace to attain the virtue of humility. The Blind Bartimaeus begged for sight; let us beg for humility.
2. ACCEPT CORRECTIONS.
Even though it really does go against the grain. None of us enjoy receiving corrections, in theology called fraternal corrections—due to our inherent pride. However, when God allows someone to correct us, instead of bristling and becoming defensive, or even attacking that person, we should humbly listen and strive to correct within us what needs to be corrected, and accept submissively the person who has meted out the correction. Ouch!
3. SPIRITUAL DIRECTION.
Nobody can direct themself adequately for the simple reason that we all have blind spots. For that reason Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint John of the Cross, Saint Ignatius of Loyola and many other saints insist upon the indispensable character of having a spiritual director to pave the way and help us through the meandering valleys, briars, thickets, and potholes on the road to heaven. Humility requires that we submit our judgment to someone with more experience in the spiritual life—that is to say, a good spiritual director.
4. CONFESSOR.
Somewhat related to Spiritual Direction is that of having a stable Confessor to whom we can lay bare our conscience and the state of our soul. We should also submit in humble obedience to the advice of our confessor. These are stepping stones to grow in humility.
5. ACCEPT ADVICE.
If it is our determined purpose in life to make our own decisions at all times and places, without consulting others for frequent and helpful advice, then we are paving the way to fall into many pitfalls and maybe even off the cliff. Accepting advice from others is not easy but often helpful and even necessary to grow in truth and humility.
6. ACCEPTING HUMILIATIONS.
Most of us will cringe at the mere notion of the following, but it is a sure means of growing in humility: humbly accepting humiliations when God allows us to be visited by them. They will come, there is no doubt! However, to accept them demands God’s grace, as well our acceptance of God’s grace that comes with the humiliations.
7. HUMBLE SERVICE TOWARDS OTHERS.
At the Last Supper, not only did Jesus serve the Apostles, but He also knelt down, girded Himself with a towel and humbly washed their feet. This was the chore of a slave in the time of Jesus. Once we put ourselves not in the front, but in the back ready and willing to serve others, then we will have made huge strides in advancing in the virtue of humility.
8. TEMPTED TO PRIDE: CALL TO MIND OUR PAST FAILURES.
The devil never goes on vacation and often he will attempt to puff us up with pride. A most efficacious remedy when the winds of pride are buffeting at the door of our heart is to call to mind the many times that we have fallen morally, sinned seriously, and God has so quickly and mercifully forgiven us! When we feel tempted to elevate ourselves in pride, we should remember our own moral misery and this will maintain us in humility.
9. CONTEMPLATE THE LIFE OF CHRIST: OUR WAY, TRUTH, AND LIFE. Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen has preached on the humility of Christ in three different aspects of His Life and Presence. The Life of Christ can truly serve as a model for us but most especially in the realm of the virtue of humility. The following are the three different aspects or dimensions of humility in the Life of Christ.
a) THE INCARNATION. By this is meant that Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, actually became man. This indeed was a huge humiliation—the lowering, the debasing of Himself for love of us.
b) THE PASSION OF CHRIST. Sheen, with his typical eloquence, preaches on the astounding humility of Christ manifested with stunning clarity in all the dimensions of His Passion—His Agony in the Garden, Scourging at the Pillar, Crowing with thorns, Carrying of the Cross, bitter Crucifixion, the insults launched at Him upon the cross up until His dying breath. Every aspect and detail of the Passion of Jesus reflected a most profound humility.
c) JESUS’ REAL PRESENCE IN THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS AND BLESSED SACRAMENT. A still greater, widespread and universal manifestation of humility is related to Jesus’ REAL PRESENCE in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Blessed Sacrament. How often is Mass offered on Sundays and huge numbers of Catholics decide not to show up. Then there are those who show up and do not pay attention to what is going on in the Mass. Worse yet, there are Catholics who attend Mass but receive Holy Communion unworthily in the state of mortal sin. Finally, there are Churches, Chapels, and Sanctuaries where Jesus is truly present in these sacred places but no one comes, even to make a short visit. Not only is this painful to Jesus, but it is also very humiliating. Jesus willing undergoes this humiliation for love of us, and as an example for us of the virtue of humility.
10. FREQUENT SACRAMENTAL CONFESSION.
Finally, it must be mentioned that the well-prepared and assiduous practice of frequent Confession can definitely be a springboard for launching us into the deep ocean of humility. Having to examine our conscience and recognize our sins is humbling enough. However, to go to the priest—face-to-face or behind the screen—and admit our moral failures is hard. But at the same time, it is a sure path to growth in humility.
In conclusion, friends in Jesus and Mary, the virtue of humility is indispensable on our highway to Heaven. To be sure, in Hell are Satan, the devils, and all those who died imbued with pride—the vice opposed to the virtue of humility. Whereas in Heaven are only those who embraced humility. In truth, they recognized the greatness of God, their total dependence on God, and their gratitude to God for all His abundant Graces and Gifts. Let us close in our striving for humility by meditating on the words of Saint Peter: “Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (I Peter: 5:5) May Our Lady, the humble servant of the Lord, attain for us a truly humble heart, humble spirit, and humble style of life!
