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- Herausgeber: Paraclete Press
- Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
- Sprache: Englisch
It is not easy to write about the importance of Christian humility. How does one exhort others to be humble, without sounding boastful oneself? The writings in this volume are classics of the genre, penned by four of the true experts on the Christian spiritual life: Thomas à Kempis, Brother Lawrence, St. Antony of Egypt, and St. Catherine of Siena.
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Seitenzahl: 112
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014
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HUMBLE THYSELF BEFORE THE LORD
Humble Thyself before the Lord
THOMAS À KEMPISBROTHER LAWRENCEST. ANTONY OF EGYPTST. CATHERINE OF SIENA
PARACLETE PRESS
BREWSTER, MASSACHUSETTS
2014 First printing
Humble Thyself Before the Lord
The portions of this book taken from writings of Thomas à Kempis and Brother Lawrence, plus biographical material about these authors, are copyright © 2014 by The Community of Jesus, Inc.
The portions of this book taken from the writings of St. Anthony of Egypt and St. Catherine of Siena, plus biographical material about these authors, are copyright © 2014 by Paraclete Press, Inc.
ISBN 978-1-61261-503-5
Consists of excerpts from material previously published by Paraclete Press, Inc. The Paraclete Press name and logo (dove on cross) are trademarks of Paraclete Press, Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in an electronic retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.
Published by Paraclete PressBrewster, Massachusettswww.paracletepress.com
Printed in the United States of America
CONTENTS
FOREWORD
THOMAS À KEMPIS
Humility Is the Greatest Wisdom
From The Imitation of Christ, book I, 1–2
Cultivating a Humble Spirit
From The Imitation of Christ, book I, 6–11
Only the Humble Can Hear God’s Word
From The Imitation of Christ, book III, 3–4
Four Things that Bring Peace
From The Imitation of Christ, book III, 23–27
BROTHER LAWRENCE
Practicing Humility in God’s Presence
From The Practice of the Presence of God, part IV
ST. ANTONY OF EGYPT
Take No Pride in Your Faithfulness
From “The Life of St. Antony” by St. Athanasius the Great, in The Wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, chapters 1–21
Spiritual Maxims on Pride and Humility
St. Antony of Egypt, from The Wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers
ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA
Persevere in Humble Prayer
From Little Talks with God, book I, chapter 1Note to the Reader: St. Catherine is talking from her own experience. She is the “servant of God” in this recounting.
NOTES
BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES OF THE CONTRIBUTORS
Thomas à Kempis, ca. 1380–1471
Brother Lawrence, 1611–1691
St. Antony of Egypt, ca. 298–373
St. Catherine of Siena, ca. 1347–1380
FOREWORD
It is not easy to write about the importance of Christian humility. How does one exhort others to be humble without sounding boastful oneself? The writings in this volume avoid that problem. They are classics of the genre of Christian spiritual writing, penned by four of the true experts on the Christian spiritual life.
Each of them writes with clarity, and from a great depth of personal experience, and yet what they describe is something that is ultimately beyond description. In that respect, this book is deceptively simple: you cannot obtain what they describe by simply reading.
The writings are not presented chronologically, but rather, thematically, in a way that is designed to move the reader from one topic to the next in an order of spiritual progression.
Brief biographies of each author may be found at the conclusion of the book.
THOMAS À KEMPIS
From The Imitation of Christ
HUMILITY IS THE GREATEST WISDOM
From The Imitation of Christ, book I, 1–2
CHAPTER 1
The Imitation, or Following of Christ, and Contempt for All the Vanities of the World
1. “Whoever follows me,” says the Lord, “will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”1 These are the words of Christ, by which we are taught to follow his life and way of life if we would be truly enlightened and delivered from all blindness of heart. Let it therefore be our chief endeavor to meditate upon the life of Jesus Christ.
2. The teaching of Jesus Christ excels all the teachings of the saints. One who has the Spirit, will find in it the hidden manna.2
But it happens that many, although they often hear the Gospel of Christ, are moved by it very little, because they do not have the Spirit of Christ.
Therefore, those who would fully and wholeheartedly understand the words of Christ, must endeavor to conform their lives entirely to the life of Christ.
3. What will you gain if you dispute learnedly on the doctrine of the Trinity, if you lack humility, and by this you are displeasing to the Trinity?
Surely great words do not make us holy and righteous; but a virtuous life makes us dear to God.3
I would rather feel contrition than know its definition.
If you knew the whole Bible by heart, and the sayings of all the philosophers, what would this profit you without the love and grace of God?
“Vanity of vanities! All is vanity”—except to love God and to serve him alone.4 This is the highest wisdom: to despise the world and to look for the kingdom of heaven.5
4. It is therefore vanity to look for the perishing riches, and to trust in them.6
It is also vanity to look for honors and to attempt to climb to a high position.
It is vanity to follow the desires of the flesh and yearn for that which must bring with it grievous punishment.
It is vanity to desire to live long and not to care to live well. It is vanity to be concerned only with this present life, and to make no provision for the life that is to come.
It is vanity to love that which so speedily perishes and decays, and not to hurry on to where everlasting joy awaits you.
5. Call often to mind that proverb, “The eye is not satisfied with seeing, or the ear filled with hearing.”7
Endeavor then, to withdraw your heart from the love of things that are seen, and to turn yourself to the things that are unseen.8
For those who follow their own sensual lusts defile their consciences and lose the grace of God.9
CHAPTER 2
Thinking Humbly of Ourselves
1. All persons naturally desire knowledge;10 but what good is knowledge without the fear of God?
Surely a humble peasant who serves God is better than a proud philosopher who, neglecting his own soul, occupies himself in studying the course of the stars.
Those who truly know themselves are lowly in their own eyes, and do not delight in the praises of others.
If I understood everything in the world and did not have divine love, what would it avail me in the sight of God, who will judge me according to my deeds?11
2. Give up that excessive desire for knowledge, for in it there is much distraction and deception.
Learned persons are anxious to appear learned to others, and to be called wise.
There are many things the knowledge of which does little or no good to the soul.
And they are very unwise who set their minds on anything more than they do on the things that aid them in their salvation.
Many words do not satisfy the soul, but a good life comforts the heart, and a clean conscience gives great confidence toward God.12
3. The more you know and the better you understand, the more strictly you will be judged, unless your life is also more holy.
Do not be elated in your own mind, then, because of any ability or knowledge you may possess, but rather let the knowledge given you make you more humble and cautious.
If you think that you understand and know much, know also that there are many more things you do not know.
So do not be proud and puffed up with your knowledge,13 but rather acknowledge your own ignorance.14 Why would you set yourself above others, since there are many more learned and more skillful in the Scripture than you are?
If you would know or learn anything to your own good, then desire to be unknown and to be considered as nothing.15
4. The highest and most profitable learning is a true knowledge and humble opinion of oneself.
It is great wisdom and perfection to think nothing of ourselves, and always to think well and highly of others.
If you should see another openly sin or commit some grievous offense, you should still not think yourself better because of it; for you do not know how long you will be able to stand.
We are all weak and frail; but you should regard no one frailer than yourself.
CULTIVATING A HUMBLE SPIRIT
From The Imitation of Christ, book I, 6–11
CHAPTER 6
Inordinate Affections
1. Whenever we desire anything inordinately,16 we are at once disquieted within ourselves.
The proud and covetous can never rest. The poor and humble in spirit dwell in the multitude of peace.
Those who are not completely dead to themselves are quickly tempted and overcome in small and trifling things.
The weak in spirit, and those who are as yet in bondage to fleshly and material things, can withdraw themselves from worldly desires only with great difficulty.
Therefore, they are often afflicted and sad when they set about to withdraw themselves from those desires and are quickly angered when any opposition comes against them.
2. If they have given in to their lusts and obtained what they desired, they are soon plagued with remorse of conscience, because they yielded to their passion and in this way robbed themselves of the very peace they sought.
True quietness of heart, therefore, is achieved by resisting our passions, not by obeying them.
There is no peace in the heart of a fleshly person, nor of one who is wholly given up to outward things; but in a fervent, spiritual person who takes delight in God there is found great peace and inward quietness.
CHAPTER 7
Avoiding Vain Hope and Pride
1. They are foolish indeed who put their trust in other persons or in any creature.
Do not be ashamed to serve others for the love of Jesus Christ and to be considered poor in this world.
Do not presume to trust yourself, but place your hope in God.17
Do what is in your power to do, and God will honor your heart’s intent.
Do not trust in your own knowledge,18 or in the cleverness of any living soul, but rather in the grace of God, who helps the humble and humbles the proud.19
2. If you have wealth, do not glory in it or in your powerful friends. Rather glory in God who gives all things and who, above all, desires to give you himself.
Do not pride yourself because of your physical stature or your beauty, which may be marred or destroyed by a small illness.
Do not take pleasure in your natural gifts or your readiness of wit, for fear that you may offend God, who created everything good that you have received by nature.
3. Do not consider yourself better than others, for fear that perhaps in the sight of God, who knows what is in us, you be accounted worse than they are.
Do not be proud in well-doing, for the judgment of God is far different from human judgment, and he is often offended by that which we find pleasing.
If there is any good in you, you should believe that there is much more in others, and so preserve your humility.
It does you no harm to consider yourself worse than all other persons, but it does you great harm to exalt yourself above even one person.
The humble enjoy continual peace, but the heart of the proud is full of jealousy and frequent indignation.
CHAPTER 8
Avoiding Too Much Familiarity
1. Do not lay open your heart to everyone, but in all your affairs, go in search of the counsel of those who are wise and who fear God.
Do not talk much with the young nor with strangers.
Do not flatter the rich, or go in search of the presence of great and famous persons.
Keep company with the simple and humble, with the devout and upright. Talk with them about uplifting things. Do not be familiar with any woman, but in general commend all good women to God.
Desire to have close fellowship with God alone and with his holy angels, and avoid the acquaintance of other persons as much as you may.
2. We must have charity toward everyone, but familiarity with everyone is not advisable.
Sometimes it happens that a person unknown to us is highly commended by the good reports of others, but turns out to be offensive on closer contact.
We think sometimes that we please others by our presence when in fact we are offensive to them by those bad qualities that they can see in us.
CHAPTER 9
Obedience and Subjection
1. It is a very great thing to live in obedience, to be under a superior, and not to be free to do as we please.
It is much safer to obey than to govern.
Many live under obedience more from necessity than from love, and such persons are discontented and easily complain. They cannot attain freedom of mind unless they willingly and heartily put themselves under obedience for the love of God.
