Humility and St. Francis of Assisi
Last night, on EWTN, Fr. John Corapi, SOLT,₁ spoke very eloquently about Humility, and he told us that it boils down to this,
"No Humility, No Holiness, No Heaven."We have a lot to consider. But first, we need to look at what "Humility" is. Fr. Corapi said it is the acceptance of Truth. Try to look it up in a search engine and you get over 18 millions websites which have something to say about humility. Some use the word in jest. Other websites say something else, but if 18 million people really knew what true humility was, this would be a much different world. We learn a lot from Holy people in our lives, the Blessed and Saints, and we could consider the following as a definition of Humility.
"[Saint] Francis Anthony [Fasani] considered humility the foundation of all Franciscan virtue. For, he said: "The Virgin Mary is the door to paradise. He alone who is not arrogant or puffed up is able to enter through this door, for it is a narrow and humble one.'' Francis Anthony indeed practiced this humility: "As superior, after he had reprimanded and corrected his confreres in the Conventual chapter, he often knelt before them with his cord around his neck, and very humbly begged their pardon if he had saddened them and had not always edified them by his manner of acting.'' "From the official processes of his Beatification we know that praise was a veritable torment to Blessed Francis Anthony; indeed, he showed himself happy and filled with joy when he heard unfavorable remarks about himself which the mediocre and lukewarm are accustomed to make against the fervent." Interiorly humble himself, he loved those occupations which foster humility. When he was Guardian and Minister Provincial, he served the sick and prepared the rooms for visitors. He used to sweep the church as well as the sacristy and choir; he also rang the bells and was happy in performing the duties of the simple lay brothers." See "Franciscan Spirituality: What is it?" In Philippians 2: 5-11, we find a definition of humility, "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
In his acclamation, "You are humility," Francis establishes the theological foundation of minority. Francis chose humility as the chief characteristic of his brotherhood because humility characterizes the self-revelation of God: Though he [Christ Jesus] was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness (Phil 2:6-7). Francis saw with great spiritual clarity that the Feast of the Annunciation is not primarily about the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Incarnation is not primarily about Jesus, but both celebrate the humble love of God our Father: The most high Father made known from heaven through his holy angel Gabriel this Word of the Father...in the womb of the holy and glorious Virgin Mary, from whose womb he received the flesh of our humanity and frailty. (See "That excessive love: A reflection on Francis' experience of the Crucified" (2.1) by Father John Corriveau, OFM Cap. (CIOFS))
Jean Rigauld, OFM, in his "Life of St. Anthony" describes the humility of the saint: "Humility, the guardian and the perfection of every virtue, so completely possessed the Man of God that even among the Friars Minor he wished to appear the most contemptible, the vilest and the lowest of all. Knowing that he who carries the treasure openly on public ways lays himself open to being robbed, he concealed with the greatest care the virtues and gifts which God has granted him. Although filled with the spirit of Wisdom, he kept his learning so completely hidden from the Friars that they could perceive no sign of it save in a few rare and very short lectures given by him. Since 'knowledge puffed up' too often, he would rather pass among men as ignorant and uncultured than be inflated with pride or carried away by vainglory. But humility is proved by humble actions; and no one should account himself humble who tries to avoid humble employments. Therefore, Blessed Anthony as the humblest of men sought out the humblest occupations."
St. Anthony of Padua, a great preacher, brings us back to Fr. John Corapi, also a great preacher. Fr. Corapi is aware that he is a great preacher, but he is also very much aware that without God's help, he could not bring out even one word. So humility is a certain knowledge where we stand, and to God we are but a speck of dust on the face of this earth.... and yet, and that's the beauty of Our Lord God ... he loves us immensely. He knows each one of us through and through. He knew us even before were conceived by our parents, even before we were just a fleeting thought in their minds. The evil that is in the world today, the wars, the terror, that is not His doing... God wishes for us only peace and perfect joy. (See Francis of Assisi - Perfect Joy) The evil that prevails in the world today is our responsibility, it is Original Sin to which we agree again and again. The whole human race is collectively responsible for eating from the apple, for lacking the humility to recognize the Truth and the Light, Jesus Christ, as the Son of the Living God. Humility is that virtue that opposes Pride.
It is not surprising that when we search on the word "Pride," we get 254 Million responses. Pride is one of the seven deadly sins. The fallen angel, Lucifer, is known for his pride... so Satan is very much involved in seeding weak souls with pride. In the Name of Jesus, do not listen to the devil.
It is very much OK to have self-esteem (some people call that pride, too), but know always that without God, we are nothing. With God, we are very strong and convincing, but without Him at our side, we are nothing at all. "Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like onto Thine." (an old prayer). In Ecclesiastes 2:10-11, "Nothing that my eyes desired did I deny them, nor did I deprive myself of any joy, but my heart rejoiced in the fruit of all my toil. This was my share for all my toil. But when I turned to all the works that my hands had wrought, and to the toil at which I had taken such pains, behold! all was vanity and a chase after wind, with nothing gained under the sun."
So don't chase after glory. We who understand humility know that we are servants, slaves, as Fr. Corapi said in so many words. That doesn't mean that we should be a 'doormat' as a deacon noted to me some time ago, to let everyone walk over you. If you allow that to happen, no one would listen to you. But on the other hand, Our Lord helps us to be forceful in the spoken word or in writing when we are serving Him. We are God's servant but not his slave, because He has delivered us from the slavery of sin by His Cross. Still, we have an ongoing responsibility to live each and every day as God's servant, in humility and obedience.
Fred Schaeffer, SFO, 7/30/2006
(1) http://www.fathercorapi.com
