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A Lesson on Humility and Detachment
Grasping for honour
“Self conceit, the desire of notice, the wish that others should speak of us, praise our management, and say that we are successful and work wonders, all this is an evil which makes us forget God, which poisons our holiest actions, and is most pernicious in hindering spiritual progress. I cannot understand how anyone who believes and holds it to the matter of faith that “he who exalteth himself shall be humbled” can possibly speak to pass off for a holy person, for wise, watchful and able.” (Saint Vincent de Paul)
Introduction
I recently stumbled upon the above quote by St. Vincent de Paul. I found it enormously inspiring. It describes the pursuit of what St. Thomas Aquinas termed as ‘honour’.
In this context, honour constitutes the desire to be noticed, to be praised and to be positively stroked for our acts (even acts of holiness). According to St. Vincent de Paul, these desires “poison even our holiest actions” and “hinders spiritual progress”.
Why is that so? Let us now consider the wisdom of Saint Augustine of Hippo.
Pursuing a delusive and vain happiness
“The world is more dangerous when it flatters us than when it ill-treats us. We should be more careful of…
