examination of the heart 514 to keep those already granted and possessed, and to acquire new graces from God, you should apply yourself with all zeal to humility. Finally, consider carefully that humility is the only virtue that lifts us up to the dwelling-place of the heavenly beings; and, as St. Philip Neri, the Flower of Florence says and teaches, delivers and releases us from the unsuitable and hurtful effect of sadness, from dangerous scruples, and from very oppressive temptations.257 For this reason, St. Anthony the Great, who had before his eyes the evil spirits’ cunning tricks and snares laid out for the entrapment of the souls of good men as well as other countless dangers, inquired with trembling by whom these are to be overcome; the answer was given from God: that all these nets and dangers to salvation can be overcome by someone humble.258 Finally, you shall be easily convinced that a religious without humility is like a house without a foundation. But endowed with it, he is like a building provided with the best fortification and founded on the strongest rock. Since this is so, you should lament very much and in the highest degree that you have not yet acquired this most excellent of virtues, and that you never, or certainly most seldom, practiced it, doing so with the uneasiness of a swaggering spirit. Henceforth, having considered how great are its power, excellence, and dignity, and also its usefulness, will you continue to be negligent or will you strive to acquire it as soon as possible and to exercise it constantly? 3. Make some resolutions to exercise humility. As it was said, humility consists in keeping silence, avoiding showing off one’s learning, wearing the cheapest garb, doing lowly duties, and showing most prompt submission to whom it is due. And it also consists in declaring yourself, not only in speech, but also with reasons, most deserving of hell because of your evil deeds; and 257 Cf. Carlo Gasbarri, Filippo Neri nella testimonianza dei contemporanei, Città Nuova Editrice, Roma 1974, pp. 24-71 (Ch. II-III). 258 Cf. Athanasius, Vita S. Antonii (#50), in: PG, vol. 26, Ateliers catholiques du Petit-Montrouge, Paris 1857, p. 890 (n. 654).
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