Full disclaimer: I'm no expert in humility. Anyone who's known me for more than 5 seconds knows this. However, it's something I have become interested in and wanted to just briefly discuss. How can humility be beneficial, how does it set one free?
I often think about things, I internalize things people say and events. I sometimes run things through my head many times over and over. I can become upset, angry, or other emotions when contemplating these events and situations. These feelings throw me off. I become focused on them and often try to resolve them in some way. If someone said something which made me uncomfortable, maybe I have to somehow talk to that person or let them know. Maybe I have to smooth things over. Maybe I have to doublecheck what they meant by what they said.
Many people can probably relate to this way of thinking. Another issue I sometimes face is embarrassment or awkwardness, which is related to the first thing mentioned. I don't want to say the wrong things or come across the wrong way. I don't want to leave a bad impression. Perhaps I don't want to look bad in front of fellow Catholics or I fear my reputation is being injured.
These thoughts often occupy the minds of many people in our world. We have fear, stress, anxiety, depression caused by these thoughts and fears. We feel the need to constantly defend ourselves and to appear well-adjusted, competent, and liked by those around us. Our egos are easily bruised and we are constantly on the defensive. We rarely listen to the advice of others as it will make us appear weak or pathetic.
Fortunately I have a cure. In a word: humility.
I know humility is often talked about by the saints but I think at some point I just realized the immensity of this powerful virtue. Most saints and theologians classify humility as the most important virtue as it counteracts the most dangerous: Pride.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux said the three most important virtues are: Humility, Humility, and Humility.
One of the insights I have had about humility is that it is very liberating. How? Well one way is to look at situations which could be potentially embarrassing, uncomfortable, etc, as opportunities to grow in humility. Humility is about understanding our place. God is so much greater than us, and we have sinned so often in the past, yet God in his greatest is willing to forgive us of our sins as much as we ask. Who are we to think we are great and important? God has given us everything in our lives. If he can give us everything, and Jesus Christ died for our sins, who are we to think we are so important.
In terms of the definition of humility, I offer the Catholic Encyclopedia entry:
The virtue of humility may be defined: "A quality by which a person considering his own defects has a lowly opinion of himself and willingly submits himself to God and to others for God's sake." St. Bernard defines it: "A virtue by which a man knowing himself as he truly is, abases himself." These definitions coincide with that given by St. Thomas: "The virtue of humility", he says, "Consists in keeping oneself within one's own bounds, not reaching out to things above one, but submitting to one's superior" (Summa Contra Gent., bk. IV, ch. lv, tr. Rickaby).
Without God we would be nothing, we would have nothing, we would not even exist. Our past sinful actions have merited us hell, yet God has lovingly rescued us. Who are we to puff out our chests and think we are something so important?
By being humble, we allow God to work through us. We can be lead in the ways God wishes us to be, we serve one another, and we are willing to be corrected. No one can exhibit more humility than Jesus Christ himself who although God, chose to become man and be subjected to our tortures and punishments. Jesus Christ died for our sins, we owe him everything.
On a practical level, I have found that when I do try to be humble it is extremely freeing. If you see situations as opportunities for humility or other virtues, then you don't worry so much about others' opinion of you, you take alleged insults or slights as constructive criticism. You ask yourself the person who said these things has a point. If they do not, you ignore it. If they do have a point, you try to implement what they've said.
Some saints have become known for their great humility. St. Thomas Aquinas, known as the Angelic Doctor, and probably the top theologian in the Church was so humble that in class, he rarely spoke and was labeled as the dumb ox. His brilliance was hardly known to those around him. He humbly let others speak before him. He did not try to build his reputation or appear to be qualified and competent.
St. Thomas spoke so little that his teacher assigned him a tutor as the teacher did not know if Thomas was even comprehending what was being taught. During the first lesson, when conversing with the tutor, the tutor recognized the towering intellect of St. Thomas to the point where he requested they reverse roles.
Another example of humility comes again from St. Thomas Aquinas, but this time it was his contemporary St. Bonaventure who showed this virtue. Here is the story (from http://www.catholickingdom.com/People/Dominique/Archive/inline/FF_17.html):
It was 1264 when Pope Urban IV instituted the Feast of Corpus Christi, (this title comes from the Latin, meaning the Body of Christ). The pope wanted a special Mass and office written especially for this new important feast of the Holy Eucharist. It was this difficult and essential task that was appointed to both Sts. Bonaventure and Thomas Aquinas. The holy father reserved to himself the right of choosing which of these two great men’s writings would be used.
So on the appointed day, both Saints, each with his manuscript under his arm, came before the Vicar of Christ. St. Thomas was to go first, and kneeling before the pope, began to read what he had written. Both Pope Urban IV and St. Bonaventure listened with tears of emotion to the beautiful work of this Saint. And while St. Thomas was still reading, St. Bonaventure turned aside and tore his manuscript into small pieces. When St. Bonaventure's turn came, he admitted what he had done and told them that he was no longer in possession of his manuscript. St. Bonaventure explained that he considered St. Thomas’ work alone worthy to be used at the Most Holy Feast, therefore making it unnecessary to take his own poor work into account.
And for centuries now on the feast of Corpus Christi, within every Catholic church is heard that heavenly hymn written by the hand of St. Thomas Aquinas. And while no one will ever know what inspiring prayer St. Bonaventure wrote, we do know one thing. While God is greatly glorified and pleased with the great work of St. Thomas Aquinas, He is equally glorified and pleased with the great humility of St. Bonaventure.
So when you hear the "Tantum Ergo" or the "O Salutaris Hostia," (excerpts from what St. Thomas wrote for the feast of Corpus Christi), remember the humble act performed by St. Bonaventure who desired that this feast be the most beneficial to the Catholic Church and give the greatest glory to God.
With humility we are focused on God's will, not our own. If someone hurts us, we focus more on the harm that does to our enemy than to ourselves. I feel like many saints had this point of view. Jesus himself, from what I can see, was far more concerned about the spiritual welfare of those around him than he was to any perceived slight. He let personal attacks slide, like a lamb led to the slaughter he did not even speak a word. Yet, when people were in spiritual danger to themselves, Christ spoke in the most unreserved and direct ways. Remember "Get behind me Satan". He did not mince words.
So let's keep humility in mind. Think of specific ways you can grow in humility. Over time you will realize how freeing it can be.
