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Unprofitable servants: Conferences on humility
The virtue of humility is at the basis of the spiritual life; and yet, paradoxically, how few are the books in English which are really helpful in their treatment of this virtue! Here at last is a book which deals with this most essential and most difficult of virtues in a way that is modern in idiom and approach, and which, while restating the unchanging principles on which the virtue is based, yet contrives to give the most practical and commonsense guidance in overcoming the genuine difficulties and problems to which the practice of humility gives rise.
105 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1981
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December 29, 2018
November 29, 2018: In a group I am in, we are doing an Advent/Christmas favorite book-exchange and this title immediately came to mind. One does not like to give a book that everyone—or indeed anyone—else will give and I can be quite sure that NO ONE else will give this book, it being so obscure and yet, it stands out in my mind as a book-of-all-books (except for Holy Scripture to be sure!) Years ago, when I became convinced of its worth I bought several used (it is out-of-print) copies knowing I should like to have them to give as gifts; this was one of those times. The lady who chose it, did so because, “it looked old”. She is collector of antiques and knows that things of value appreciate over time. Anything I could write about this book would be bland as bland could be, but with the Grace of the Holy Spirit, nothing in this book is such. Note to self: get it out every so often and reread.
October 31, 2014: I have returned to this book so often and with such profit I can only list a few books ahead of it in terms of helpfulness in the spiritual life ... and yet I don't believe I've ever read it all the way through—not exactly sure why that is. Perhaps it is that there is so much to meditate and work on in the early short chapters, I never quite feel ready to move on. This time I have spent several days just contemplating this: “And then, Juliana of Norwich tells us, “I saw a little thing, the size of a hazelnut, in the palm of my hand ... and I thought: ‘What can this be?’ And answer came: ‘It is all that is made.’ I marveled that it could last, for I thought it might have crumbled to nothing, it was so small. And the answer came into my mind: ‘It lasts, and ever shall, because God loves it.’ And so all things have being through the love of God.”
The author goes on to tell us: ‘Reflecting upon ourselves we should marvel that we last and do not rather fall away to nothingness we are so little. In him we are. We, like all else, have being because God loves us. To desire our own excellence then is to love something that is not. To be proud is to be an idolater ... but the idol is something that really is not. Worse than the idolatry of the Israelites before the golden calf, our idolatry is a bowing down before a thing of our imagination. ‘
This comes from the first chapter called, “What have you that you have not received?” Chapter II, entitled “The Fundamental Virtue” explains the subtleties of this virtue of virtues, which I confess contains more meaning to me now that I have more “life” – and therefore more humiliations – under my belt. Another extremely helpful chapter is, Chapter VI, “Humility’s Nearest Neighbors” which explains the difference between humility and magnanimity, meekness, faith, modesty and patience. While events, circumstances and other virtues may dispose or motivate us to another virtue, it is well to be able to distinguish one virtue from another. On magnanimity we learn, ’Humility will enable us to resign a post; magnanimity will cause us to congratulate our successor. Magnanimity is a virtue which is rarely enough discussed or recommended to us, but without it our humility will limp. The very word itself is almost sufficient explanation of it—magnanimity—the quality of being great-souled.’ Meekness is narrower in scope than humility and is concerned precisely with the keeping of our temper, its function being to restrain or regulate our anger.
The saints just say, “Humility is Truth”.
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May 27, 2013: Returning to this favorite book again (for the third or fourth time) though I have yet to read it all the way through. Because it's out of print, I bought an extra copy, just to have on hand, to read selections from it periodically. The entire book is a series of meditations on Humility which as I read and reread them seem like a bottomless pit, as do my own mental gymnastics in looking for ways round the virtue.
One of my favorite chapters is the one on 'Pride and Vanity'. 'Vanity, which comes from pride, as the capital sin ... differs from pride in that it seeks to be known to others. Its sinfulness lies in wanting to be praised either for something we do not possess, or for something which is not praiseworthy, or by persons whose praise is not worth having. Everyone is tempted by vanity, and there is literally nothing about which one cannot be vain. ... Pride itself is even greater than that and saints have called it the 'the queen and mother of all vices'. ... The acceptance of humiliation alone shows the depth and reality of our humility.'
This should bring some small comfort to any who have ever suffered humiliation. And indeed, who among us has not?
Think I'm always going to be reading this book!
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Do you ever hear a long-familiar Gospel as if for the first time? When I heard Luke 17:7-10 at Mass the other day, I wanted to learn more.
October 31, 2014: I have returned to this book so often and with such profit I can only list a few books ahead of it in terms of helpfulness in the spiritual life ... and yet I don't believe I've ever read it all the way through—not exactly sure why that is. Perhaps it is that there is so much to meditate and work on in the early short chapters, I never quite feel ready to move on. This time I have spent several days just contemplating this: “And then, Juliana of Norwich tells us, “I saw a little thing, the size of a hazelnut, in the palm of my hand ... and I thought: ‘What can this be?’ And answer came: ‘It is all that is made.’ I marveled that it could last, for I thought it might have crumbled to nothing, it was so small. And the answer came into my mind: ‘It lasts, and ever shall, because God loves it.’ And so all things have being through the love of God.”
The author goes on to tell us: ‘Reflecting upon ourselves we should marvel that we last and do not rather fall away to nothingness we are so little. In him we are. We, like all else, have being because God loves us. To desire our own excellence then is to love something that is not. To be proud is to be an idolater ... but the idol is something that really is not. Worse than the idolatry of the Israelites before the golden calf, our idolatry is a bowing down before a thing of our imagination. ‘
This comes from the first chapter called, “What have you that you have not received?” Chapter II, entitled “The Fundamental Virtue” explains the subtleties of this virtue of virtues, which I confess contains more meaning to me now that I have more “life” – and therefore more humiliations – under my belt. Another extremely helpful chapter is, Chapter VI, “Humility’s Nearest Neighbors” which explains the difference between humility and magnanimity, meekness, faith, modesty and patience. While events, circumstances and other virtues may dispose or motivate us to another virtue, it is well to be able to distinguish one virtue from another. On magnanimity we learn, ’Humility will enable us to resign a post; magnanimity will cause us to congratulate our successor. Magnanimity is a virtue which is rarely enough discussed or recommended to us, but without it our humility will limp. The very word itself is almost sufficient explanation of it—magnanimity—the quality of being great-souled.’ Meekness is narrower in scope than humility and is concerned precisely with the keeping of our temper, its function being to restrain or regulate our anger.
The saints just say, “Humility is Truth”.
<><><><><><><>
May 27, 2013: Returning to this favorite book again (for the third or fourth time) though I have yet to read it all the way through. Because it's out of print, I bought an extra copy, just to have on hand, to read selections from it periodically. The entire book is a series of meditations on Humility which as I read and reread them seem like a bottomless pit, as do my own mental gymnastics in looking for ways round the virtue.
One of my favorite chapters is the one on 'Pride and Vanity'. 'Vanity, which comes from pride, as the capital sin ... differs from pride in that it seeks to be known to others. Its sinfulness lies in wanting to be praised either for something we do not possess, or for something which is not praiseworthy, or by persons whose praise is not worth having. Everyone is tempted by vanity, and there is literally nothing about which one cannot be vain. ... Pride itself is even greater than that and saints have called it the 'the queen and mother of all vices'. ... The acceptance of humiliation alone shows the depth and reality of our humility.'
This should bring some small comfort to any who have ever suffered humiliation. And indeed, who among us has not?
Think I'm always going to be reading this book!
><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
Do you ever hear a long-familiar Gospel as if for the first time? When I heard Luke 17:7-10 at Mass the other day, I wanted to learn more.
Displaying 1 of 1 review