Michael Brooks
Humility is a virtue that is foundational to the spiritual life of Catholics. It is a quality that allows individuals to know themselves and their relationship with God and His creation. Cultivating humility involves practices such as gratitude, honesty, and intentional listening. It means accepting one's weaknesses and depending on God rather than oneself. Through humility, we imitate Jesus Christ, who embodied humility through his self-denial and service to others. By recognizing our dependence on God, we can grow closer to Him and experience spiritual transformation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Accepting your weaknesses | Knowing you are not God |
| Asking for help | Overcoming self-love |
| Praying daily | Developing gratitude |
| Practising honesty | |
| Intentional listening | |
| Knowing yourself | |
| Self-denial | |
| Apologising | |
| Being aware of the needs of others |
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What You'll Learn
Pray for humility
Prayer is an essential aspect of cultivating humility in one's life. St. Vincent de Paul wrote that humility is the most effective weapon against Satan, and Jean Vianney said that humility is to virtues what a chain is to a rosary.
- Pray for God's help in overcoming self-love and pride. Ask Him to help you see yourself and your abilities in the right light.
- Pray for the gift of humility. Be honest with God about your struggles with admitting wrongdoing and ask Him to help you grow in this area.
- Pray for a heart of gratitude. Thank God for all that He has given you, even the things you didn't work for or feel you deserve. This will help you realise that everything comes from God and foster a sense of humility.
- Pray contemplatively. Contemplative prayer is a covenant relationship with God, allowing Him to conform you to His likeness.
- Pray the Litany of Humility daily. This prayer can help you focus your heart and mind on humility and submit yourself to God.
- Pray for discernment. Ask God to show you areas in your life where you lack humility and guide you towards practices that will help you grow in this virtue.
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Ask for help
Asking for help is a beautifully humble practice. It is a way to grow in humility by imitating Jesus Christ, who "emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:7). Humility is not about crawling around in the dirt or humiliating yourself; it is about accepting your weaknesses and realising that you are not God.
Asking for help can be challenging, as it requires us to admit our limitations and dependence on others. Pride can often get in the way of asking for help, as we may want to maintain an image of self-sufficiency and independence. However, true humility recognises that we are not meant to go through life alone and that we need the support of others.
By asking for help, we acknowledge our limitations and create opportunities for others to use their gifts to serve us. This not only benefits us but also allows others to experience the joy of serving and contributing to our lives. It is a way of imitating Christ, who came to serve rather than to be served (Matthew 20:28).
Asking for help also creates a sense of community and connection. It can be a way to build relationships and strengthen bonds with those around us. When we ask for help, we open ourselves up to receiving the love, support, and expertise of others, allowing us to grow and learn from them.
Furthermore, asking for help can be an act of trust and vulnerability. It requires us to let go of our self-reliance and pride, trusting that God will provide for our needs through the people He places in our lives. This can deepen our relationship with God and help us to grow in humility as we recognise that He is the source of all good gifts (James 1:17).
In conclusion, asking for help is a powerful way to grow in humility. It is an acknowledgement of our limitations, a recognition of our dependence on God and others, and an opportunity to build community and connection. By imitating Christ's example of servanthood, we can experience the joy of humility and deepen our relationship with God and those around us.
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Practise honesty
Practising honesty is a crucial aspect of cultivating humility in the Catholic faith. Humility is deeply intertwined with honesty, and being truthful with oneself and others is essential for personal growth and spiritual development.
Recognising and acknowledging one's talents and downfalls is a vital step towards humility. Instead of making excuses or seeking ways to justify one's mistakes, practising honesty involves admitting one's shortcomings without fear or hesitation. This fosters an attitude of humility and helps one grow as an individual.
In their pursuit of humility, Catholics can draw inspiration from the lives of saints and religious figures. For instance, Mother Teresa exemplified humility by daring to speak against abortion at the National Prayer Breakfast in 1993, displaying both self-confidence and dependence on God. Her example teaches that humility is not synonymous with a lack of confidence but rather stems from a deep understanding of one's worth and reliance on God.
Additionally, St. Vincent de Paul's writings emphasise the power of humility as a weapon against Satan. By imitating Christ's humility, as depicted in His suffering and death on the cross, Catholics can strive for spiritual growth and a closer relationship with God.
Intentional listening is another facet of practising honesty. By actively listening to others and refraining from interrupting, individuals can cultivate humility and strengthen their relationships. This practice involves setting aside one's defences and excuses and instead offering sincere apologies and seeking to mend relationships.
In conclusion, practising honesty is integral to growing in humility within the Catholic faith. By embracing honesty, individuals can better recognise their talents and shortcomings, draw inspiration from religious figures, wield humility as a spiritual weapon, and foster meaningful connections through intentional listening and sincere apologies. These practices enable personal growth and a deeper relationship with God.
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Be intentionally grateful
Humility is a cornerstone of Catholic spiritual life. It is a virtue that enables spiritual growth and holiness. Being intentionally grateful is a key aspect of cultivating humility.
Gratitude is a powerful tool for spiritual growth and a way to honour God. It is a way to acknowledge God's role in our lives and to appreciate the blessings we have. Being intentionally grateful means making a conscious effort to recognise and appreciate the good in our lives. This can be done through prayer, keeping a gratitude journal, or sharing with others.
The apostle Paul encourages Catholics to "rejoice always, pray constantly, [and] give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). Paul's words in Romans further emphasise the importance of gratitude: "We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope" (Romans 5:3-5).
Practising gratitude can bring grace into our lives. Cicero taught that "gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all the others." By being grateful, we can strengthen our relationships with others and with God, and lead more fulfilling spiritual lives.
To cultivate intentional gratitude, it is important to shift from negative to positive thinking. This can be done by recognising and appreciating the blessings in our lives, especially during challenging times. We can also express gratitude by giving thanks to God for answered prayers and reflecting on the past with gratitude, creating beautiful memories and a more positive outlook.
Additionally, it is beneficial to surround ourselves with grateful people and avoid the trap of materialism, which can fuel ingratitude. Social media can be a source of jealousy and negatively impact our ability to be grateful, so it is important to maintain a healthy perspective and cultivate gratitude in our hearts.
By intentionally practising gratitude, we can grow in humility and draw closer to God, emulating Jesus Christ, who "emptied himself, taking the form of a servant" (Philippians 2:7).
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Listen to others
Humility is a cornerstone of Catholic spirituality, and listening to others is a powerful way to cultivate this virtue.
Listening to others is a powerful way to cultivate humility. It shifts the focus away from oneself and creates an opportunity to learn and grow in virtue. Colleen Roy, in her article on humility, mentions that she knows how hard it is to admit when she is wrong and that she can be quick to judge and criticize. She also acknowledges that she often thinks she has a better answer than others. This self-awareness is a great starting point for growing in humility.
To listen to others effectively, one must first be aware of their own biases and tendencies. For example, if you find yourself interrupting people when they are voicing a concern, try to stop and simply listen. Formulating a defence or an excuse in your mind can be a natural reaction, but it can also be a barrier to truly hearing what the other person is saying. Instead, practice apologizing and moving forward to mend the relationship. This not only demonstrates humility, but it also models a behaviour that can help resolve conflicts and build stronger connections.
Another aspect of listening to others is being aware of their needs. It can be easy to focus on our own physical, spiritual, or emotional needs, but humility calls us to look beyond ourselves and consider the needs of those around us. This can be as simple as asking how someone is doing and truly listening to their response, or it could involve more significant acts of service and charity.
Listening to others also means being open to learning from them. Each person has unique experiences and insights that can enrich our own understanding of the world. By approaching conversations with curiosity and a willingness to learn, we can gain new perspectives and grow in humility.
Furthermore, listening to others can help us cultivate humility by challenging our own assumptions and biases. When we truly listen, we create space for diverse viewpoints and experiences that may differ from our own. This can lead to a more nuanced understanding of the world and our place in it, fostering a sense of humility.
In the end, listening to others is a powerful way to cultivate humility because it helps us to see beyond ourselves and recognise the inherent worth and dignity of those around us. By practicing this virtue, we can build stronger relationships, resolve conflicts, and grow in our understanding of the world and our place in it.
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