Rob Colquhoun

To be able to discern and discover true humility is a brave yet difficult task. Many mistake humility for simplicity in an attempt to be pure and simple at heart. As those that are first shall be last, and the last first- we must always be looking for the good of others and to treat other people as we would like to be treated ourselves. Taking into consideration that one in six people live in poverty – a truly overwhelming statistic we should recognise that there are many millions of people more humble and in far more difficult circumstances that ourselves. Humility lets us realise that God is the author of all good, and that our ambition or pride can obstruct our relationship to God. Voluntary humility can be known as “poverty of spirit.” (CCC 2546). Those that are humble are to be exalted- this is a foundation for turning to God in prayer. In recognising our own limitations, weaknesses and vulnerability we can ever more discover the overwhelming love of the creator for his creatures. Humility provides us with a foundation stone for prayer. As we do not pray as we ought (often asking for things that are an extension of our own will) – we must recognise our humility and poverty before God who has willed all things into being and without whom nothing would exist.

To be truly humble is to live for others and for God, in confidence and love and with the gifts of self control and a healthy control of the will. The will for power, money and sex is always waiting to surprise us. Jesus Christ was so humble that he became poor for our sake in order that we might have the ability to seek salvation.

Real excellence is closely related to humility as a twin sister- to be humble to not to be humiliated. in confidence and love and with the gifts of self control and a healthy control of the will. The will for power, money and sex is always waiting to surprise us. Jesus Christ was so humble that he became poor for our sake in order that we might have the ability to seek salvation.

Real excellence is closely related to humility as a twin sister- to be humble to not to be humiliated. You are not humble when you humble yourself, but when you are humbled by others that is when it is possible to be exalted.