Word of the Week

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

Humility: Humilitas (L.): meaning “lowliness or submissiveness” , behind it conveys a term that means “from the earth which is beneath us”

Humility is the virtue by which a Christian recognizes their relation to God and the need for simplicity to have a proper assessment of self. The Christian that abides in the spirit of hu mility constantly lives in the image of God averting the capital sin of Pride. This aversion to sin provides the foundation for turning to God in prayer in constant repentance (CCC 299, 1450, 1559). The fruit of humility is spiritual poverty (CCC 2546).

Humility can be found in Sacred Scripture approximately 115 times. Although more prevalent in the Old Testament than the New Testament, humility carries with it weight in both Covenants. Among the many rich meanings in the OT is that of lowliness. The OT vision of humility was an acquired disposition of heart, in which a person considering his own defects had a lowly opinion of self and willingly submitted to God and to others for God's sake (2 Chr.34:27; Ez.8:21; Job 22:23; Is.58:3). The NT offering of humility was similar in many ways to that of the OT, but maybe with one distinction—the grace acquired through the humble heart (Jas.4:6; 1 Pet.5:5). The Gospels remind us often “a humble heart is one that will be exalted” (Mt.23:12; Lk.14:11, 18:14). Christ is the highest example of this stalwart of virtues when he “humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross” (Phil.2:8). This is the model to which we aspire during the Lenten season.

The humble person makes a genuine assessment of self before God and puts that barometer of self into practice. Humility does not put up false pretenses or pretend to be someone who he is not; rather the humble person is free to serve and realizes the fullness of his potential. The highest truth of humility resides in the lowest place, where we empty our hearts so God can fill us with the wonders of the fullness of Truth. Pride is the crowning defect to this pillar virtue that we must avoid at all costs!

"Humility is the virtue by which a man knowing himself as he truly is, abases himself.”

-- St. Bernard

Primary Texts Consulted

• Catholic Bible. Suggested trans. Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition.
• Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Edition, 1997.

 

The Catholic Hour Home Page
Comments or Questions?
Contact Webmaster