Serious Advent Stuff About Humility To Help Us On Our Way To Bethlehem - 5
We conclude our special Advent posts, focused on the virtue of humility.
Humility has been a theme we've focused on over the years during Advent. Most appropriate to Advent, consider Our Lord's birth in a stable in Bethlehem on that first Christmas. Could there be a more poignant and powerful example of humility than this?
And so we call on Father Joseph Schryvers for some lessons in humility as we work our way through Advent. We'll want to apply them to our own individual circumstances - and that includes our time at work. For work, we might examine how we apply ourselves to our tasks and how we respond to whatever success we have, or lack thereof.
If successful, do we get all puffed up? Or do we simply note that we just completed a task well done - as it should
be. In that spirit, we recognize that all our tasks should be done
first for the glory of God, next because we want to diligently
perform all our tasks with fervor and exactness, finally because we
simply have paid a debt to our employer and/or our customers and
clients.
If not successful, we might face the facts. Accept either our shortcomings or failure as somehow part of God's Plan. If criticized for less-than-perfect work, rather than defend our actions, we might simply accept the criticism calmly, without resentment or complaint.
With that in mind, here's our 5th lesson for Advent:
“To become humble, the first move is to assume the infallible certainty that you are proud. Pride infests your thoughts, desires, and smallest acts; its roots are embedded in the most hidden fibers of your human nature. Anyone who looks upon such a statement as this as an exaggeration will never be cured of pride. We must constantly disavow before God the thousand unjustifiable ambitions which we consciously, or unconsciously, harbor in the secret places of our souls. We should ask pardon for our foolish pretensions and thank Him for not abandoning us to the pride of our own hearts. We should frequently ask light to see ourselves as we are; strength to love our abjection; and courage to allow ourselves to be treated according to our deserts. Louis Veuillot, on seeing a worm crawling at his feet, exclaimed: ‘I thank You, My God, for not crushing me with Your feet: me, this crawling worm.’ The better a soul knows herself, the more she despises and lowers herself; and the more she humbles herself, the more God raises her up to Himself.
“The humble man never approaches God without a sentiment of his own absolute personal misery; he shuns all ideas of self-esteem, as he would the bite of a serpent. Neither does he hold to his own opinion, but willingly yields to that of others to whom he is condescending and indulgent. He never speaks in a bitter and imperious manner. The humble of heart show constant serenity and calmness of countenance and are always accessible, especially to the lowly. The humble man, aware of his limitations, does not meddle in other people’s business; he does not judge nor contradict without necessity. Ever ready to render a service, especially at his own expense, his ambition is to serve all, and to occupy the last and lowest place. Oh! How rapidly the humble soul advances in virtue, because she goes by the way of spiritual childhood! Choice graces from the Heart of Jesus flow abundantly upon her like the mountain torrents which water the valleys and make them fertile in good things and lovely to behold. Oh, Jesus! I wish to live in humility. I am nothing; I have nothing; I can do nothing: my sins are my only possession. I am the poor leper, covered with the ulcers of pride. You alone can cure me. But even though I am poverty itself, I feel within me intense desires to rise towards You, and in spite of my misery I have unlimited confidence in Your power. I want to be the little child whom You love and take into Your divine arms and press to Your Sacred Heart. I want to be the meek and gentle dove who settles itself upon Your powerful wings. O Divine Eagle! Bear me away, very high, into the regions of love!” - Fr. Joseph Schryvers, C.SS.R. (1876-1945)
We conclude with the beautiful, traditional Advent aspiration:
Divine Infant of Bethlehem
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