MEEKNESS AND HUMILITY

MEEKNESS AND HUMILITY

            “Learn of me, because I am meek and humble of heart.”  -- Matt.  11:29

HUMILITY

             Humility is called by the saints the foundation and safeguard of all the virtues.  According to St. Thomas, this virtue occupies the first place as the foundation of the rest. 

             This great virtue, however, needs a lot of constant practice.    Most often than not, when we tend to do something good we tend to think highly of ourselves. Moreover, the ways of the world are very much opposed to what humility is asking that is why our tendency is to result to pride.  Nonetheless, God’s grace and efforts to imitate Christ make it easier for us to achieve this virtue.

            Humility is truth.  It is the acceptance of who we are and acknowledging the gifts God has bestowed on us without boasting.  Not knowing who we really are will tend to defy the truth.  Unfortunately, sometimes culture has a way of influencing our confidence to accept the truth about ourselves.  We tend to deny simple good things other people recognized in us even if we know that they are right.  Or, there are times that we tend to accuse ourselves of unworthy and deserving of punishment; yet deny when they reprove.  Let us remember what St. Bernard said, “To humble oneself for the sake of being praised is not humility at all.”

            Humility of the will on the other hand means to bear insults patiently.  Humiliation leads to humility.  As Christians, we will be encountering a lot of side comments with regards to our activities, devotions, and services to Christ.  And when those times come, we have to suffer them patiently if we want to achieve sanctity.

Meekness

            Meekness is not being “uto-uto” or gullible.  It is bearing with all manner the offenses and embarrassment without getting angry.  Many of our saints loved this virtue as they seem to advance more in holiness when people spoke ill of them.  Hence, we can say that meekness is not possible without deep humility, a humble opinion of ourselves, and the desire to be treated with contempt.

            St. Francis de Sales, a master and model of holy meekness, says:  “humble meekness is the virtue of virtues.”

            If we want others to obey us, St. Vincent de Paul says that we have no better means of winning the affection and obedience of their subjects than by meekness.  In correcting others, this virtue is also very important.  It helps us avoid to have an angry tone in correcting others as this does more harm than good.  But if it is inevitable to speak in a stern manner to impress the culprit with the gravity of his fault, at least a kind word must be said in the end so as not to leave the person hurt.  Meekness accomplishes far more than anger and bitterness.

            We also must exercise meekness towards self.  To be angry towards self because of a fault committed is still a sign of pride.  Again, we have to admit that we are weak persons easily tempted.  Just as we have to forgive others, so must we also forgive ourselves.

Reference:  12 Steps to Holiness and Salvation by St. Alphonsus Liguori; talk of Fr.Angelo

A Valentine To Remember - brev cHacHi

St. Therese of the Child Jesus

                It was the eve of Valentine’s day of 2000.  I remember rushing to prepare for an overnight vigil at the Carmelite Monastery, Dontogan, Baguio City to venerate the Relics of St. Therese of the Child Jesus.  That was a night to remember...

                Many devotees flocked in the convent while the Brevs and I were outside enjoying the serenity of the place under the stars.  As we waited for our chance to get inside the chapel, we busied ourselves writing notes (a brev culture) to be given to our founder-formator, Bro. Alex Manongdo.  All the while, he thought we were writing down our petitions.  He didn’t have an inkling that he was into a loving surprise.

St. Therese and Bro. A!

                Midnight came, it was Valentine’s Day!  We gave our messages in a bottle to Bro. A! and he read them one by one overwhelmed with the love he received from his flock.  We watched him with joy and excitement as we heard every message.  Each letter inspired not only him but us as well.  We continued the night sharing stories about St. Therese and how much she loved Jesus in her simplest ways.  As we reflected on that great love between the Master and His Little Flower, we were filled with so much zeal to love the way she did.  Her examples made us want to have the love of Jesus fill our hearts that we might love like Him.  Thus, she became the Brevs’ patroness.  

                When we had the chance to enter the chapel, we could not describe the joy that filled us.  The grace to be an arm distance to St. Therese of the Child Jesus was simply incredible while others didn’t get that chance we had.  We sang until morning came.  We served during the morning mass as well.  We tried our best not to doze off.  

                After the mass, we were able to meet the Carmelites and they gave us white roses.  Personally, words are not enough to describe the joy I felt that time.  It was as if we were being embraced by the heavens.  The Brevs as usual helped fix the area before we parted ways.  It was a start of a new day...

                Though it was hard for us to separate, we had to go back home and fix ourselves to prepare for school.  Yeap!  I was still a student at that time.  Though sleepy the whole day, we were just too hyper to share our experiences during the vigil to every person we met.  We found ourselves so in love.  We decided to take the vocation St. Therese had – The Vocation to Love.  Up to this moment, I could say that was the BEST BREV VALENTINE I ever had.

                To my fellow Brevs, may you remember that night when Jesus filled our hearts with so much joy and affirmed us with His unconditional love.  We may be looking for a magic to happen or an elation to feel the day of hearts, but may we never forget that Valentine’s day is the day of God for He is Love.  So rejoice!  Embrace the day with an offering to love Him with all our hearts so He may teach us True Love...and believe that in return, true happiness will come into our lives.  May our dear St. Therese inspire us more to be firm in our Vocation – Love!

                Keep loving!