Quote of the day, 10 November: St. Teresa of the Andes

I have understood that what most keeps me from God is my pride. From now on I desire and propose to be humble. Without humility, the rest of the virtues are hypocrisy. Without that the graces received from God are harmful and ruinous.

Humility brings us the likeness of Christ, peace of soul, holiness, and intimate union with God. Two things are the necessary means to obtain this: First, consideration of the motives we have to be humble. Second, frequent practice of acts of humiliation.

These are the principal degrees of humility:

1. To feel abasement of self and to treat one’s things as one does those one despises.
2. The truly humble person doesn’t want to be esteemed. He doesn’t consider himself to be great nor does he speak well of himself; above all, he considers himself the least of all. If others treat him this way, then he’ll suffer this in silence.
3. To desire that they do so and to carefully seek those occasions.
4. To rejoice when they condemn your opinion or intention, and to give thanks to God for it.

I sometimes practice those first two. Humility must be voluntary; it must be sincere; it must be circumspect, that is, one must know when to practice it. Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Yours.

Saint Teresa of the Andes

29. “We are going into solitude” (Retreat of 1917)

Griffin, M D & Teresa of the Andes, S 2021, God, The Joy of My Life: A Biography of Saint Teresa of the Andes With the Saint’s Spiritual Diary, ICS Publications, Washington DC.