[Irenikon] Charles de Foucauld-on Humility

Three non-Benedictine sources of holiness have had a great influence on my life.   The first is Don Bosco and the Salesians - St John Bosco has continued to mould me, even after I left my Salesian school and, later became a Benedictine.   The second is Taize, and the third is Charles de Foucauld.   All three have helped to shape my life, and I am grateful to all three.   This is a little piece from Charles de Foucauld.   A post on Taize is in preparation. - Fr David  

http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2011/10/on-holy-humility-thoughts-of-blessed.html

On Holy Humility

Thoughts of Blessed Charles de Foucauld

Part One

Humility is the foundation of Sanctity. During His earthly life, Our Lord Jesus gave us ineffable examples of this virtue which all Christians may imitate. The Kingdom of Heaven, in fact, belongs to those who know how to “become little ones and choose the last place.”

“And Jesus grew in wisdom, age and grace” (Luke 2:52).

Progress everyday in love and in the virtues; if you stop, you will go backwards… Work without ceasing and often examine at what point you have reached:  the means of knowing whether you are progressing in the love of God and in all virtues, consists in seeing whether you are growing in love of your neighbor and in humility… If you are growing in these two things, it is certain proof that you are also growing in all perfection.

“Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:4)

God has not bound salvation to science, to intelligence, to riches, to much experience, to rare gifts which not all have received, no.  He has bound it to that which is within the reach of everyone, absolutely everyone, the young and the old, human beings of every age and class, of whatever degree of intelligence and of whatever condition…   He has bound it to that which everyone, absolutely everyone, can give Him, to that which every human being, whoever he may be, can give Him, having a little good will: a little good will is all that is necessary in order to gain this Heaven which Jesus binds here to humility,  in making yourself little,  in taking the last place,  in obeying, and which elsewhere He links to poverty of spirit, to purity of heart, to love of justice, to a spirit of peace, etc.

Let us imitate the humility of Jesus.  Let us seek the last place, and not only for us, but also for all those who surround us:  parents, friends, companions.  Let us not be ashamed of poverty, of the abasement of our relatives, but rejoice in it: all this draws us closer to Jesus;  on the other hand, let us not rejoice in their apparent elevation: this, the greater it is, does nothing else than render us dissimilar to Jesus.  O Jesus, how good You are to render all the virtues sweet  to us, making of them so many points of similarity and of union with  You, O divine Beloved One.

From De vita Contemplativa – Franciscan Sisters of The Immaculate (Umbria, Italy) - Contribution and translation: Francesca Romana - This is the first of a two part series.

Labels: Scheduled posts

Posted by New Catholic at 10/12/2011