Michael Brooks
Pride is a common human flaw that has existed since the beginning of time. It is considered a sin in the Catholic faith and is defined as the excessive love of one's own excellence. Pride can manifest in many ways, such as perfectionism, a desire for control, independence, and individualism. To overcome pride, one must first acknowledge its existence in their lives and then cultivate humility and gratitude. This can be achieved by recognizing God's mercy, understanding that all gifts come from God, and focusing on gratitude for the blessings in one's life. Additionally, reading scriptures and learning from the saints can help sharpen the weapon of humility and keep pride at bay.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pride is a disorderly desire for human excellence | Understand that God gives us gifts and calls us to different types and degrees of excellence |
| Pride is a desire for excellence above us or an excellence God does not will us to have | Be patient with yourself and do not let fear of pride prevent you from doing good things |
| Pride is one of the most universal sins | Acknowledge your sins, admit them, and ask for forgiveness |
| Pride is the excessive love of one's own excellence | Cultivate gratitude and humility |
| Pride is the root of all evil | Understand God's mercy and set aside self-righteousness and self-justification |
| Pride isolates individuals from others | Practice magnanimity and do great things worthy of honour |
| Pride is a vice | Recognise how pride manifests in your life and work on the opposite virtue |
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What You'll Learn
Recognise pride and its existence in your life
Pride is a common and universal sin that can manifest in many ways. Recognising pride and its existence in your life is the first step towards overcoming it.
Pride can be defined as a "disorderly desire for human excellence". It is a desire for an excellence that is above us or an excellence that God does not will us to have. Pride is an excessive love of one's own excellence, which leads to a person seeing themselves as independent of God. This excessive self-love is not a wholesome love of oneself, but rather a love of one's own worth that aims to withdraw from subjection to God.
Pride can manifest as perfectionism, where a person gets caught up in their own work and seeks their own glory rather than the glory of God. It can also show as an inordinate desire for control, an inability to listen to others, a tendency towards anger and criticism, and a difficulty in asking for or offering forgiveness. Recognising these manifestations of pride in your life is crucial to overcoming it.
To identify pride, reflect on your thoughts, actions, and interactions. Do you find yourself seeking perfection and glory in your work? Are you prone to wanting control and having the last word? Do you struggle with patience and respecting others' views? Are you easily angered or critical of others? Do you find it challenging to forgive or ask for forgiveness? If you answer yes to these questions, pride may be present in your life.
Additionally, consider the motives behind your actions. Are you motivated by a desire for personal excellence or recognition? Do you feel a sense of superiority or self-righteousness? Are you defensive about your own achievements or justifications? Recognising these internal drivers can help you identify the existence of pride in your life.
Remember, pride can be sneaky, and it is often easier to see in others than in ourselves. However, by being honest with yourself and seeking to understand your thoughts and behaviours, you can recognise the presence of pride and begin the journey towards overcoming it.
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Understand God's mercy and acknowledge your sins
Pride is a universal sin that stems from a desire for human excellence that is not willed by God. It is a difficult sin to eradicate, and one must be patient with oneself during this process.
Understanding God's mercy and acknowledging one's sins are crucial steps in overcoming pride. Here are some ways to cultivate such understanding and acknowledgement:
Understand God's Mercy
Pride can be defeated by growing in humility and gratitude. Recognize that all your gifts and blessings come from God and that you are nothing without Him. Understand that your sins cannot keep you from God's mercy, and the greater the sinner, the more deserving they are of His mercy. This understanding will free you from self-righteousness, defensiveness, and self-absorption, allowing you to see yourself in the light of truth.
Acknowledge Your Sins
Admitting your sins is crucial. Acknowledge your sins to yourself and to God, especially in confession. At times, it may be necessary to acknowledge your sins to others to seek their forgiveness and mercy. This depth of humility is attractive and can inspire peace and joy in your heart. Follow the example of the tax collector in the Gospel, who cried out, "Oh God, be merciful to me a sinner," and returned justified.
Cultivate Virtues
Work to cultivate virtues such as magnanimity and humility. Magnanimity leads you to do great things worthy of honor, not for self-glorification but because they are inherently great. Humility helps you recognize that your accomplishments are due to God's gifts. Ask God to embolden the good desires of your heart, and let your motivation come from a love of God, your neighbor, and a wholesome love of yourself.
Practice Gratitude
Take time each day to recognize and appreciate the gifts, blessings, and good things in your life. Thank God for these gifts and express gratitude to those around you for their acts of generosity, patience, and love.
Serve Others
Get involved in charitable organizations or find other ways to serve others. Pride often manifests as a self-focus that can lead to judging others, impatience, and an inability to ask for or offer forgiveness. By focusing on others and their needs, you can combat these prideful tendencies.
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Cultivate gratitude and humility
Pride is a "disorderly desire for human excellence", as defined by St. Thomas Aquinas. It is the excessive love of one's own excellence, which leads to a withdrawal from God. Aquinas also notes that pride is "that frame of mind in which a man, through the love of his own worth, aims to withdraw himself from subjection to Almighty God".
Pride is considered the root of all sin in Catholicism. Augustine and Aquinas taught that pride was the root of sin, and Calvin, Luther, and many others agreed. C.S. Lewis called pride "the great sin", and John R.W. Stott referred to it as "your greatest enemy".
To get rid of pride, one must cultivate gratitude and humility. Humility is understanding that God is everything and that we need Him entirely. It is realising that all the things we do and achieve are because of the gifts God has given us. It is the most important virtue and the mother of all virtues.
- Take time each day to reflect and recognise the gifts and blessings God has given you. Thank God for these gifts and also thank the people around you for their acts of generosity, patience, and love.
- Understand that you can do nothing without God and His grace. This realisation will help you grow in humility and gratitude.
- Meditate on the example of Jesus Christ, who is the greatest example of humility in history.
- Pray the "Litany of Humility", which focuses on the purification of pride that leads to selfish desires and unhealthy fear.
- Be patient with yourself. Recognise that conquering pride takes time and be gentle with yourself during the process.
- Continue to act and use your gifts, even if you feel fear or uncertainty about your motives. Do not let fear of pride prevent you from doing good things.
- Ask God to embolden the good desires of your heart. As your good desires grow, pride will lessen, and you will be motivated by love for God, your neighbour, and yourself.
- Understand God's mercy and acknowledge your sins. Recognise that even your sins cannot keep you from God and that you are still deserving of His mercy.
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Be patient with yourself
Conquering pride is a gradual process, so it is important to be patient with yourself. Pride is a difficult sin to eradicate, and a universal one, so it is important not to fall into despair.
Pride is a sneaky vice, often easy to spot in others but rarely in ourselves. Therefore, it is important to be aware of its existence in your life and to acknowledge it as a problem. It is also important to understand that pride is not the same as self-love. Self-love is praiseworthy and necessary in the life of a Christian. Pride, on the other hand, is an excessive love of one's own excellence, which leads to a person seeing themselves as independent of God.
Pride can manifest in many ways, such as perfectionism, a need for control, an inability to listen to others, anger, criticism, and insincerity. Once you have recognised how pride manifests in your life, you can work on the opposite virtue. For example, if you struggle with listening to others, work on the habit of letting others have the last word. If you are prone to anger, work on patience.
Remember that pride is a common struggle, and that it is okay to admit your sins and ask for forgiveness. Do not let fear of pride prevent you from doing good things, but also do not ignore your sins of pride. Acknowledge them, entrust them to God, and move on.
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Ask God to embolden the good desires of your heart
Pride is a universal sin that stems from an excessive love of one's own excellence, which leads to a withdrawal from God. To conquer pride, one must cultivate humility and gratitude. This can be achieved by asking God to strengthen the good desires of one's heart.
Asking God to embolden the good desires of your heart is a crucial step in overcoming pride. As your good desires grow and are purified, your pride will diminish. This means actively seeking to be motivated by a love of God, your neighbour, and a wholesome love for yourself. It is important to recognise that God has called you to do great things, not out of pride, but out of magnanimity. Magnanimity is the virtue of doing great things worthy of honour, not because they make you look impressive, but because they are inherently good. By cultivating magnanimity, you can shift your focus away from yourself and towards the greater glory of God.
Additionally, as you strive to do great things, remember that it is through God's grace and the gifts He has bestowed upon you that you are able to accomplish them. This realisation will foster humility and gratitude, which are essential in counteracting pride. Take time each day to reflect on and recognise the blessings and gifts you have received from God. Express your gratitude to Him and to those around you who have shown you love, patience, and generosity. By actively practising gratitude, you can guard against the excessive love of self that characterises pride.
Furthermore, understanding God's mercy is vital in overcoming pride. When we comprehend the depth of God's mercy, we are freed from self-righteousness and self-justification. We can acknowledge our sins and admit our need for God's forgiveness and grace. This humility, born of understanding God's mercy, enables us to see ourselves truthfully and sets us on a path towards greater virtue. It is important to note that this process takes time and patience. Overcoming pride is not an overnight endeavour, but with persistence and trust in God, it can be achieved.
In your prayers, ask God to purify your heart and strengthen your desire to love and serve Him above all else. Pray for a spirit of humility and gratitude, and seek to recognise the good desires He has already placed within you. By aligning your desires with God's will and allowing Him to shape your heart, you will find freedom from the chains of pride. Remember, pride is a common struggle, and by entrusting your efforts to the Lord and following His guidance, you will be led towards a more virtuous and humble life.
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Frequently asked questions
Pride is a disorderly desire for human excellence. It is an excessive love of one's own excellence that leads to a person seeing themselves as independent of God.
Pride is considered the "queen of all vices" as it often leads to other sins. It isolates individuals from others and severs our connection with God and others.
Pride can manifest in various ways, including perfectionism, an inordinate desire for control, anger, criticism, and an exaggerated tendency towards independence.
Recognizing pride in oneself is the first step. Then, one must understand God's mercy and cultivate virtues like humility and gratitude.
Practicing gratitude for God's gifts and recognizing that all good comes from God can help cultivate humility. Focusing on magnanimity, reading scriptures, and learning from the saints can also help.
