Monday, May 25, 2015

Humility, by Saint John of Avila

Posted by Tantumblogo
Of the souls named Doctor of the Church in the past few years, or proposed to be named as such, John of Avila is to my mind by far the most worthy. No offense to St. Hildegard and Gregory of Narek, but to me, Juan de Avila’s works and influence extend far beyond theirs.
Unfortunately, this great Saint is not too widely known in the Anglosphere. There is a book I’m reading containing some of his letters that goes some ways to dispelling that unfortunate reality. This book is even better, but neither receives quite the traditional translation/interpretation I’d prefer. But, they are a good start.
From the first book, Finding Confidence in Times of Trial, St. John first divides humility into five different grades, and then into 12 degrees. The two different divisions could be viewed as building one on the other. The excerpt below is not long, but I think will provide much fruit for meditation. I tell you, I do think blogging and humility are not very conducive to each other:
Five Grades of Humility
The first grade is that, recognizing his own baseness, a man should treat his own will with contempt
The second is outwardly to show this self-contempt both in dress and manners, and by choosing work of a mean and servile character
The third is to be patient when despised by others.
The fourth is to rejoice in being despised.
The fifth is to desire with the whole heart to be despised by others [I think this is how the early martyrs heaped coals of fire on the heads of their Roman persecutors and worked such enormous miracles of conversion. Their incredible cooperation with Grace and suffering probably powered the subsequent conversion of Empire and Europe to a large degree. We may be blessed to have a similar opportunity! Are we ready?!?]
Twelve Other Degrees of Humility
The first degree is the fear of God
The second is to deny our own will
The third is obedience
The fourth is patience
The fifth is the confession of sins
The sixth is contempt of oneself
The seventh is to prefer others to self, esteeming them more highly
The eighth is to avoid singularity in outward things
The ninth is to be silent unless spoken to
The tenth is not to be prompt to laughter
The eleventh is to speak little and with gravity
The twelfth is to prefer a low estate and occupation
These lists were compiled for consecrated religious, whose existence and correspondence with humility is different from those with lay vocations, but nevertheless, I think the guidance is just right.
Humility is one of those great, forgotten virtues, but it is absolutely vital. Humility leads to self-denial, which leads to charity, which leads to sanctity, which leads to Grace and salvation. Humility really precedes all. And yet, as I said, I am quite convinced blogging is probably fairly opposed to its right practice.
That is why your prayers are so appreciated. God bless you all!
 
 
 
Image of St. John of Avila
 
 
The Apostle of Andalusia and the spiritual advisor of St. Teresa, St. Francis Borgia, St. John of the Cross, St. Peter of Alcantara, and others. He was born on January 6, 1499, at Almodovar del Campo, Spain. After studying law at the University of Salamanca, he left the university to be a hermit. He then went to Alcala, where he was ordained. John drew great crowds with his fiery denunciations of evil and his many sermons. A brief imprisonment by the Inquisition in Seville made him even more popular. His missionary efforts were centered on Andalusia, and his letters and other writings have become Spanish classics. John was canonized in 1970.
 

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