St. Faustine describes failing greatly when trying to perfect a virtue. Although we should work hard to develop virtue, our progress is dependent on grace. If we do not cooperate with God, we will be frustrated and fail. "When one day I resolved to practice a certain virtue, I lapsed into the vice opposed to [...]
Ven. Fulton Sheen reminds us that humility is the key to inner peace. We must put Jesus first, and accept that He is greater than we are. As long as we maintain our pride, we cannot find peace. "There has been no greater secret of inner peace ever given than in the words of John [...]
"Believe and adore. Believe that Jesus Christ is in this sacrament as truly as He was nine months in the womb of Mary, as really as He was nailed to the Cross. Adore in humility and gratitude." Source: St. John Vianney, The Meditations of the Cur d'Ars
"The proud man who trusts in himself may well undertake nothing, but the humble man is all the braver that he knows his own helplessness, and his courage waxes in proportion to his low opinion of himself, because all his trust is in God, Who delights to show forth His Power in our weakness, His [...]
"A really humble man would rather that someone else called him worthless and good-for-nothing, than say so of himself; at all events, if such things are said, he does not contradict them, but acquiesces contentedly, for it is his own opinion." Source:ÿ St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, Random House, Inc., [...]
"Macedonius explained to me, lowly that I am, why he had voluntarily adopted a humbled life of this kind. 'I have never felt such absence of conflict within me, such sweetness of divine light, as now,' he said." Source: St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent
True humility lies in obedience and the most literal compliance with His Will! Source: ÿSt. Francis de Sales,ÿIntroduction to the Devout Life, Random House, Inc., 2002.
"Humility endues you with the strength of God, and it is, moreover, the means of your sanctity. There is no saint here below who can rest, saying: 'I have reached the degree to which God calls me.' No, neither in the virtues nor in love does that ever come to pass. To possess a virtue [...]
"My child, I will teach you now the way of peace and true liberty. Seek, child, to do the will of others rather than your own. Always choose to have less rather than more. Look always for the last place and seek to be beneath all others. Always wish and pray that the will of [...]
"Our Lord is there. He offers you His grace and His strength, but on one condition, and that is, that you recognize that you can do nothing without it, and that you humbly and earnestly ask for it. The humble sentiment of our own weakness produces confidence. You are discouraged only because you have not [...]