Perfection through Humility

Our acts will be all the more perfect the more they are made with humility. (OOCC, X, p. 99; STA, 119)

A humble person grows in perfection. Humility, as a virtue, is the stepping- stone to perfection. Humility helps a person to assess himself honestly. A proud person does not want to look into himself for he is afraid of acknowledging his shortcomings and limitations. But a humble person is not at all anxious about self-assessment, for he is ready to accept his limitations, and learn from them. When a person evaluates himself in all honesty, he becomes aware of his own positive and negative qualities, and thereby obtains true self-knowledge. True knowledge of himself helps the person to acknowledge his unworthiness before God. He, like the publican in the Gospel, knowing his limitation, begins to trust in God, who is the strength of his humble servants. The person’s trust and dependence on God help him to move towards God in a progressive manner. On the other hand, the haughty and the proud block true self-knowledge by their self- righteous attitude. Hence, no spiritual growth is possible in the life of the proud. But a humble person, knowing who he is, can change and transform his life, in the process achieving greater levels of perfection. Knowing the value of humility for Christian perfection, St. Vincent Pallotti practiced it constantly in his life. As a result, he achieved higher levels of perfection.

Am I a humble person? Does the virtue of humility open me to genuine self-knowledge? Does humility open me to true self-knowledge? Does humility help me to depend on God? Does the practice of humility help me to grow in perfection? 

Humility … will make you both wise and honored. (Prov. 15: 33)