Humility, Manoj's Question #1

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Dear All,

 

I was thinking to share something from the writings of St. Josemaria

Escriva about his concept of The Seventeen Evidences of the Lack of

Humility because it reminded me so much of the concepts in the

Chandi. By looking at his list, it seemed a good way to reflect and

practically self-correct to attempt a balance between self-

deprecation and self-conceit; his list is another way to see the

balance between too much and too little; it is helpful in relation to

taming the Great Ego.

 

The Seventeen Evidences of a Lack of Humility

 

1. To think that what one says or does is better than what others say

or do

 

2. To always to want to get your own way

 

3. To argue with stubbornness and bad manners whether you are right

or wrong

 

4. To give your opinion when it has not been requested or when

charity does not demand it

 

5. To look down on another's point of view

 

6. Not to look on your gifts and abilities as lent

 

7. Not to recognize that you are unworthy of all honors and esteem,

not even of the earth you walk on and things you possess

 

8. To use yourself as an example in conversations

 

9. To speak badly of yourself so that others will think well of you

or contradict you

 

10. To excuse yourself when you are corrected

 

11. To hide humiliating faults from your spiritual director, so that

he will not change the impression he has of you

 

12. To take pleasure in praise and compliments

 

13. To be saddened because others are held in higher esteem

 

14. To refuse to perform inferior tasks

 

15. To seek to stand out

 

16. To refer in conversation to your honesty, genius, dexterity, or

professional prestige

 

17. To be ashamed because you lack certain goods

 

(From the Writings of St. Josemaria Escriva)

 

***Manoj wrote: 1. What is humility? Would you describe it in one

way as "not me but you"? if so or otherwise, how would you feel about

describing it as "both you and me" (the meaning here is that I am

humble towards myself too)?