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SuzanneG
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| Posted: Aug 09 2009 at 11:57pm | IP Logged
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In this thread Nique asked about the benefits of consecration, Helen started talking about how consecration has helped her to realize Mary's Humility:
Helen wrote:
Yesterday, as I thought of your question, one word came to my mind: humility. I think Consecration to Our Lady places one in a humble position before God.
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Consecration helps me to be more docile to the workings of the Spirit. Considering myself an instrument in the hands of Mary, helps me on a day to day basis, to put up with the tough situations in life. It helps me to see more meaning in the small discomforts of life and the larger and painful sacrifices. |
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And, then...
Willa wrote:
| I'm also glad to see that "knowledge of unworthiness" is not a deal-breaker. I feel it so strongly that it always discourages me from deeper consecration but I guess it should be the opposite. Seems obvious now that I've written it, perhaps, but something I needed to think about. |
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It seems that that "Knowledge of Unworthiness" is humility in this case. Humility is a hard virtue to wrap our brains around. So maybe we could use this thread to:
1. Give concrete examples of growth in humility? Helen and everyone.....how has humility effected how you see things? react to things? think about things? Within your vocation?
2. Share your favorite quotes from the saints, prayers, books and scripture verses about Humility
3. Throw out questions and talk about it....what we do best, of course. 
So many things about the virtue of Humility have really made me think this time around, during this preparation. It's quite beautiful, and reflecting on Mary's Profound Humility has really had an effect on me these past couple of weeks.
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Suzanne in ID
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aussieannie
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“Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance.” ~St Augustine
“There is something in humility which strangely exalts the heart.” ~St Augustine
"There is more value in a little study of humility and in a single act of it than in all the knowledge in the world." ~St Teresa of Avila
So much to ponder in these quotes...
This prayer is what I like to say when I struggle with humility {so I say this prayer often }
Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine.
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Mackfam
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Perhaps the most significant thing that consecration to Our Lady has done for me over the years is to make me more aware of Our Lady's profound humility and from that she has drawn great spiritual lessons for me. Our Lady continually shows me in concrete ways how to humble myself.
Humility is always painful for me because it means letting go of a part of myself that I was unknowingly (and sometimes knowingly) very attached to. But, there is such great consolation on the heels of that painful bending of the will. I made a great connection to humility and charity in yesterday's reading in Divine Intimacy pertaining to Charity and Humility.
St. Paul in yesterday's readings spoke on the variety of charismatic gifts the Holy Spirit may offer a soul, and Father Gabriel offered this meditation...
Quote:
"Although these are very precious gifts, they are inferior to sanctifying grace and charity, which alone gives supernatural life to the soul. ... St. Paul also - and in the same letter from which the passage in today's Mass it taken - after enumerating all these extraordinary gifts, concludes with his famous words: '...all this, without charity, is nothing.'
Charity is always the "central" virtue, the fundamental characteristic of the Christian soul, and is also the greatest gift the Holy Spirit can give us. |
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then, Father Gabriel goes on in the very next meditation to say how closely related humility is to charity...
Quote:
| "Charity, it is true, is superior to it (humility) because it gives us divine life; yet, humility is of great importance because it is the virtue which clears the ground to make room for grace and charity." |
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There is a lot in that one statement! Think about it...humility clears the ground to make room for grace and charity!!!
Now, the final prayer addressed to Our Lord:
Quote:
| "O Lord, You said 'Come to Me, all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you.' But what path should I take to reach You? The path of humility, for only then will You console me. But what consolation do You promise to the humble? Charity. In fact, the soul will obtain charity in proportion to its humility. O what sweet, delicious food is charity! It sustains us when we are weary, strengthens us when we are weak, and comforts us when we are sad. O Lord, give me this charity which makes Your yoke sweet and Your burden light" (St. Bernard) |
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For now, I go through a series of steps that prompts me to quiet, prayer, detachment, humility, charity, and peace. It is an answer to my temperament which is naturally one of reaction and sharing. Humility comes from quiet - interior and exterior.
I think ultimately the goal is to reach a spiritual maturity in which I am able to offer myself in humility so that if a situation presents itself, I am already aware of my own standing, of God's great blessings and mercy to me, so that any reaction of mine simply says, "YES! Thanks be to God for all graces received! To Him be the glory! NON NOBIS!"
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Helen
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Thank you Jennifer and Anne
Great topic for discussion Suzanne.
I'll admit that speaking about spiritual matters, in particular humility, does cause me to go back and forth in my mind whether it is good for my soul to engage in this. But, part of consecration to the Immaculate, according to St. Maximilian Kolbe is to bring the Immaculate to the world and to use the media and modern means of communication to do so. As a Third Order Franciscan, I have to keep this in mind. It may be a temptation against the grace of consecration to *not* speak of what we have learned from our years of consecration. (I’m not a Third Order Carmelite who might have a different vocation.)
With “bringing the Immaculate to the world” in mind and that humility is recognizing that any good we have comes from God, and thanking Him for any progress we make, I’ll make a stab at giving you concrete examples of the growth of humility thanks to Our Lady and Consecration.
Humility with Others
St. Louis talks about being more patient with others. (In the link to the preparation for consecration from the other thread.) It seems that because consecration does take place on a day and time, one is able to begin a time line. I think the concept of consecration and the high standards of the Saints can be daunting. Who is capable of giving oneself over and living with and in the spirit of Mary?
Consecration helps us to recognize our place in the spiritual life.
Over time, with consecration, we can see our spiritual growth and how our lives have changed by embracing the Mother of the Lord. We can see that we have moved forward, not by our own power but through the intercession of Our Lady. This is humility.
We can extend the same patience to others that Our Lady has extended to us when she accepted us at the beginning.
With a conversion we move from a sinful life to embracing the truth of the Gospel and Christ. We move from error to truth. With consecration to Mary, we are already living the life of the Gospel and are trying to live the Gospel and the life of Christ in a rich and profound way. Here is humility. Recognizing our need to deepen our prayer life and make our actions more in line with the Gospel.
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Helen
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Humility in Prayer
We should be honest with the Lord in prayer. We should bring our needs to Him with unbounded confidence.
Does that mean we should be like petulant teenagers arguing with parents when prayer doesn’t go the way we want?
I think with consecration to Mary, one’s prayers become much more humble. We begin our petulant and whining prayers with Our Mother. She soothes, consoles and corrects. She directs our hearts to become more like hers: Strong, patient, long suffering and full of love.
Then we turn to the Lord and bring our petitions to Him, in love and with full respect of His Greatness.
Mary teaches us to be humble in prayer.
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Helen
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Devotion to the Hidden Years of Our Lord's life, the years at Nazareth, provide a rich treasury for learning about humility.
The Carmelites have a deep devotion to St Teresa Margaret Redi She was a Carmelite nun who died very young. According to the Carmelites, she is the paradigm for practicing the virtues of the Hidden Life. Her body is incorrupt. (I believe she lived in Florence.)
Her feast day is September 1st.
The link above has a lot of information about her and links to works online about her.
ICS publications also has a biography about her called
... I forget... All for Love or God is Love.
I guess I have to go look that up. But, I really have to run now. 
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Helen
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Humility in Thoughts
Consecration to Our Lady involves a daily examen of conscience. We become habituated to ask
What woiuld Our Lady say? How would Our Lady respond?
This disposition leads to a reflective spirit even in the most bull like of people. It is humility to review your day and ask
Did I act like Mary?
It is even more humble to realize that we have not behaved as Mary would and make a resolution to change this behavior.
With the question of: "How would Mary act?" in my mind, it has helped me to be a little slower to speak and more open to correction. (My husband should chime in here and give his opinion on exactly how open to correction I am. I still need to work on that.)
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Helen
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The book about St. Teresa Margaret Redi is called:God is Love
St. Teresa was a cloistered Carmelite. Her practice of humility manifested itself as keeping her spiritual progress and spiritual life a secret from those around her. She seemed very ordinary to those in the convent.
This year I read a biography about St. Maximilian Kolbe which was very good recommended at our Franciscan meetings.
St. Maximilian Kolbe Saint of Our Difficult Age by Ricciardi.
St. Maximilian showed his humility when he spoke about our Lady. His confreres did not always understand what he said. He remained quiet when he was contradicted or ridiculed or misunderstood. He lived what he preached,
"Be a fool for the Immaculate."
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4Real Forums : Hidden Treasure
Topic: Profound Humility
