Hey there,
I must admit last week was pretty rough. And frankly there was an occasion where I didn’t exhibit much humility.
Okay, no humility.
So it’s no surprise that as I was finalizing the topic for this week’s Genuflect, the subject of humility was coming through loud and clear.
I realize now it definitely was a personal message the Lord was sending me … and I interpreted it to be the lead message for the week. But hopefully you’ll also benefit from this refresher that I know I needed!
Today is the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle … aka Doubting Thomas.
You’ll recall he’s the one who told the other apostles he would not believe in the resurrection of Jesus without seeing for himself and touching his wounds.
Thomas eventually did see Jesus and the Lord told him:
“Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (John 20:29)
And thus everyone since then, including you and me, understand the blessings available to us for believing without seeing.
You know, the reaction of Doubting Thomas is an example of a lack of humility. Rather than putting his trust in Jesus, he refused to believe without seeing first hand … even though Jesus told all the apostles what was going to happen.
So maybe His inspiration on humility was not only due to my behavior. This week’s issue of Genuflect looks at why you should be humble, how to tell if you are humble, ways to be more humble every day, and prayers to the Lord for humility.
And just for a little fun, here’s a throwback to Mac Davis singing “It’s Hard to be Humble” … if you can relate to the lyrics of this song, you may want to check out the prayers for humility below. 😀
Keep Believing-
Katy Barrilleaux
Editor, Genuflect
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genuflect: resources
The Virtues
Virtues! We all think we are virtuous, but so many people can’t name more than a few of them. In the Catholic Church, there are three very distinct categories of virtues which we all should be praying to have more of. The first category is known as the Cardinal Virtues, the second is known as the Theological Virtues, and the third is the Capital Virtues. Here’s what you need to know about all three types of virtues.
God Has a Weakness For Humble Hearts, Pope Says
While the prayer of a proud person isn’t strong enough to reach God’s heart, the prayer of a humble and contrite heart is capable of opening wide the door to his mercy and love, Pope Francis said.
Are You Humble? These 17 Signs From St. Josemaria Will Help You Know
Are you humble? What a tricky, but necessary, question. To truly determine the answer, we need help. Humility is not an easy virtue to cultivate. St. Josemaria Escriva lays out seventeen characteristics of a person who lacks humility—and they pack a punch. Reading through these prayerfully and honestly can help us on the path to ever greater humility.
To be “Humble of Heart,” The 12 Degrees of Humility
In following Christ our Savior, we are to imitate not so much his power and his glory, but rather his meekness and humility. But how to be humble? Indeed, it is much easier to be humble in word than humble of heart. In this regard, we turn to the writings of St. Benedict of Nursia who, in the seventh chapter of his Rule, establishes the twelve degrees of humility.
6 Ways to Cultivate The Virtue of Humility
The saints make it perfectly clear that humility is the foundation of all spiritual growth. If we are not humble, we are not holy. It is that simple. But while it’s simple enough to know that we should be humble, it’s not always so easy in practice. Accordingly, here are six methods to cultivate the virtue of humility.
Mother Teresa’s 15 Tips to Help You Become More Humble
Mother Teresa called humility the mother of all virtues. She said: “If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are. If you are blamed you will not be discouraged. If they call you a saint you will not put yourself on a pedestal.” Here are three myths about humility, Mother Teresa’s list of ways to cultivate humility for the sisters in her care, and the power of humility.
The Litany of Humility
The litany of humility, for private devotions, is a moving prayer that can bring us closer to Christ. Do you worry constantly about what others think of you? Do you feel empty or frustrated if you’re not the center of attention? The litany of humility asks for our Lord’s assistance in humbly following in His footsteps and casting aside, or at least offering up to Him, all those nagging doubts and fears that come with our self-centeredness.
Humility Prayers
Here are six prayers for humility from Jesuit Resources by Xavier University.
What Sophia Swinford Says it’s Really Like to Pray For Humility
Humility is a concept I struggle with daily. Sometimes it feels like no matter how much effort I put in, no matter how many prayers I pray, I make no progress. I often get discouraged about humility, because I think that my job is to be successful. I think that I have the willpower to force myself to be humble, but I don’t.
Humility is Essential for Growth in Prayer
Perhaps you have been praying daily for some time now and you want to know how to keep growing closer to God. How can your meditation on Scripture begin to mature? The Carmelite saints note four things that are necessary for growth in prayer: perseverance, growth in love of neighbor, humility and detachment. Connie Rossini talks about humility.
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