Lest You Remain

9 Here are the signs of the humble spirit: greater dedication to everyday tasks, turning to what is held in contempt, fleeing honors, avoiding self-praise or refer- ring it to God alone; a desire to be held in contempt. Never wish that people would realize that your deeds come from humility, and never wish to be considered hum- ble. Yet, when people believe that what you speak or do comes from humility, ascribe it rather to God’s help, than to your humility. In a nutshell: humility consists in an open, clear, genuine and sincere spirit and similar deeds. Since humility (as we are taught by a particular Doctor, drawing from the thoughts and apparitions of St. Theresa), is nothing else but the truth. And when, on account of our shameful deeds, we consider ourselves to be worms, it is most true. When we believe we deserve all the punishment, suffering, crosses and oppression, it is also not far from the truth. Certainly, we who offend God, the Father of all, individually or as a community and hurt Him with gross trespasses, are worthy of all the anguish, pain and suffering. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 10 Contemplate how many opportunities you have wasted in practicing humility. How many times, with great energy and without any urgent need, you have fought the opinions of others, and promoted your own, to stress your importance, although you could have remained silent with honor and humility. It will not be useless, if you recall already contemplated humiliations suffered by your Lord, when He was in this world. Think how much of it you have used for your humiliation and how much you still miss it. Moreover, how many times, because of your spiritual pride, have you refused humiliating services, works and functions which, if taken up, would be the source of merit? What was happening to you when there was an opportunity to humiliate yourself! Out of vain conceit and the proud desire of your mind, you neglected it or declined to take it up and did not want to give up your comfortable position. Now you regret the wasted merit and the thought of your pride, bothers your conscience. Go forward! If you have carelessly navigated into those high reefs and very dangerous rocks, from now on, try to be more careful and discern the road with greater humility, so that you could, with the Teacher of humility, Jesus, rise to the L EST Y OU R EMAIN W ITHOUT W ORK IN THE V INEYARD OF THE L ORD 128