The devil really likes…pride…because it is the principle and source of all sin. On
the other hand, it displeases God just as much as it pleases the devil. God is
displeased by pride, and pleased by humility God was so pleased with Mary’s humility that his goodness compelled him to give her the Word, his Only Begotten Son and she was the wonderful Mother who gave [that Word] to us. You know well that God’s Son did not take flesh within
Mary until she had clearly expressed both her will and her humility by saying. Ecceancilla Domini. Let it be done to me according to your Word. But as soon as she
had said this, she conceived within her the dear spotless Lamb. By this, gentle First
Truth was showing us how excellent this little virtue is, and how much those receive
who in humility give their will as an offering to their Creator.
So in times of difficulty: when we are harassed or hurt, slandered or vilified by our neighbors; when we are troubled in mind or deprived of spiritual or temporal consolation by Creator or creature (by our Creator in kindness, when he draws our spiritual feelings back into himself [though it seems from the severity of our pain and struggles that he is no longer within us]: and by other people when it seems
from our conversation and recreation with them that we love them more than they
love us)-in all these things, I tell you, those who have been made perfect in
humility say. “My Lord, here I am, your maidservant! Let it be done in me according
to your will, and not according to what my emotions want. In this way they give off
the perfume of patience-to the Creator and to other people and to themselves
They enjoy spiritual peace and calm. In the midst of war they have found peace
because they have rid themselves of selfish willfulness grounded in pride
SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA
Saint Catherine of Siena (t 1380) Doctor of the Church was a Dominican, stigmatist and papal counselor.
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