Meditation for the month of February: Humility. Image: “Christ washing Peter’s feet,” by Ford Madox Brown (1821-1893). (DeAgostini Picture Library / Getty Images)

Humility – Fifth Day of February

Humility

He that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” — St. Luke 14:11

FIFTH DAY.

The most powerful weapon to vanquish the demon is humility. — St. Francis of Paula.

St. Teresa could not conceive why preachers spoke so frequently of the necessity of humility. Is it not evident, she said, that in nothing can we glorify ourselves, since all the good we have comes from God? How can we, who are subject to so many miseries, and who have committed so many sins, be proud? We have nothing in us of which we can be vain.

Father Alvarez compared his life to a bunch of grapes in which almost every grape was spoiled. Among so many actions, he said, there is scarcely any without a defect. “And woe to me,” added he, “f God examines them too closely!”

St. Dominic was accustomed to kneel at the gate of the city where he was about to preach, and beg of God not to afflict the people with any chastisements on account of his sins.

St. Philip Neri advised those whom he directed to say, when they had fallen into a fault: “If I had been humble I should not have fallen.”

Prayer

Lord, I am but a sinner. How many sins have I not committed! I sin unceasingly. Have pity on me; grant me mercy. Woe to me if Thou treatest me as I have merited!

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