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Terry's avatar

Humility comes easier with age.

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Tolivelife's avatar

And as a woman, I’m going to do the Exodus 90 on jan 15! This is an incredible program to prep for what’s coming both from a Lenton perspective and protection from the temptations of the devil prowling about the earth looking for souls.

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Bobby Quads's avatar

Bill, great idea and I look fwd to reading it - surprising to find this topic from a blogger, not surprised knowing you a bit. I Christ's perfect humility is one issue, fallen man's is another, it would seem. Is there a difference between humbling oneself and being humble? Is it an act, a disposition, a state of being, a grace asked for, built upon? What comprises "false" humilty? In general, to me at least, humility is an issue of proper *ordering* and appraisal in the overall scheme of Creation, which is why the greatest saints believe they are in most need of grace, penance, submission to God. The last/lowest/most humble shall be first and vice versa. Can something be ordered rightly on earth "as it is in heaven?" That's a tough one! A disordered world doesn't value humility, but rather its opposite. Up is down, left is right, the lie parades as truth, etc. I just skimmed Aquinas' Summa on the topic and won't presume to attempt a summary - appetite, will and knowledge play a large role, their hierarchy and interaction. Word etymologies are always interesting: taken from "humilitas" or "as St. Thomas says, from humus, i.e. the earth which is beneath us." Go for it - I bet it will be a great journey! Bob S

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Terry Conway's avatar

The app for Exodus90 states start date of Jan 17th. Am I missing something?

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Bill Hennessy's avatar

Fixed! Thanks, again

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Bill Hennessy's avatar

I probably am. Thanks for the tip.

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Tolivelife's avatar

I highly recommend “Humility of Heart” by Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo! Pridefulness of a poor man is worse than that of a rich man. I found this to be an interesting chapter to read!

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Bill Hennessy's avatar

I'm reading it now. About halfway through, and it's an excellent recommendation. It will be a fantastic reference for my exodus. Thank you.

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Bill Hennessy's avatar

Thank you! I will investigate.

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LeadCPA's avatar

I think humility comes from understanding that blessings and/or luck came your way. You were smart enough to recognize this AND make the right decisions . You could easily have missed them and mot taken advantage of opportunities offered to you. One or two wrong decisions could have given your life a different outcome.

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Bill Hennessy's avatar

Thank you, Toni. Yes, I have made plenty of wrong decisions in my life.

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Caryn Lamping's avatar

Bill, what a great topic. In my Master's Theology class, I chose humility as my virtue on which to write. Among my research was "Humility Rules" a short and essential book by the Benedictine monk at Priory, Fr. J. Augustine Wetta. I also interviewed him and his inimitable response about why humility is not listed as a Catholic virtue, he wrote to me: "Perhaps it's too foundational to be a virtue. It's the very air that the Christian breathes." Brilliant.

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Bill Hennessy's avatar

Hah! "Humility Rules" was probably what started me on this topic several years ago. Thank you for this. I might try to contact Fr. Wetta. Quotes from a standup comedian turned Benedictine monk have to be good. (BTW, anyone who has not read "Humility Rules" is missing out on a valuable part of life. One line that stands out, probably butchered: "If you want to be more humble, clean a toilet.")

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Bobby Quads's avatar

Thanks for the tip! Must get.

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