Of Humility in Outward Bearing.
Holy Scripture relates that when a poor widow had made her distress known to the prophet Elisha, that man of God bade her borrow as many empty vessels as she could, and pour into them the little oil that remained to her, assuring her that the oil would cease to flow only when all the vessels were full. Let us learn from this that God requires hearts quite empty, that He may pour His grace into them; and let us take care to empty our own of every feeling of our own glory, if we would have them filled with the divine unction. It is said that the kestrel, by crying out and watching the birds of prey, has a secret power to frighten them and make them flee. Therefore doves love it more than all other birds, and dwell securely beside it: so humility drives Satan away, and preserves within us the graces and gifts of the Holy Spirit; and for this cause all the saints, but especially the King of saints and His mother, have ever honored and cherished this worthy virtue above all others.
Holy Scripture relates that when a poor widow had made her distress known to the prophet Elisha, that man of God bade her borrow as many empty vessels as she could, and pour into them the little oil that remained to her, assuring her that the oil would cease to flow only when all the vessels were full. Let us learn from this that God requires hearts quite empty, that He may pour His grace into them; and let us take care to empty our own of every feeling of our own glory, if we would have them filled with the divine unction. It is said that the kestrel, by crying out and watching the birds of prey, has a secret power to frighten them and make them flee. Therefore doves love it more than all other birds, and dwell securely beside it: so humility drives Satan away, and preserves within us the graces and gifts of the Holy Spirit; and for this cause all the saints, but especially the King of saints and His mother, have ever honored and cherished this worthy virtue above all others.
We call that glory vain which one gives oneself, whether for things that are not in us, or for those that are in us but are not ours; or for those that are in us and are ours, but do not deserve to be gloried in. Nobility of birth, the friendship of the great, popular favor, are things that are not in us, but either in our predecessors or in the esteem of others. There are some who are all pride and vainglory because they have a fine horse, because they have a plume in their hat, or some rich garment: but who does not perceive their folly? If there is glory in this, does it not belong rather to the horse that is admired, to the bird that furnished the feathers, to the tailor who made the garment? And what cowardice it is thus to borrow one’s merit from an animal, or from a vain adornment. Others gaze upon and admire themselves for their turned-up moustaches, for a well-combed beard, for curled hair, for delicate hands, for knowing how to dance, play, or sing; but again, what pettiness of mind to wish to enhance one’s worth and increase one’s reputation by such frivolous things! Others, on account of a little learning, would be honored and respected in the world, as though everyone ought to go to school to them and regard them as doctors: but what happens? They are given the title of pedants, and rightly so. Others strut about on account of their beauty, and believe that everyone is courting them. All this is exceedingly vain, foolish, and impertinent; and the glory one derives from such weak grounds is called vain, foolish, and frivolous.
We know true goodness as we know true balsam: balsam is tested by distilling it into water; if it sinks to the bottom, we judge it fine and precious; but if it floats, we judge it worthless. Likewise, to know whether a man is truly wise, learned, generous, noble, we must see whether his good qualities tend towards humility, modesty, and submission: for then they are truly good qualities; but if, on the contrary, they float to the surface and seek to be seen, they are goods all the less genuine for being more apparent. Pearls formed in a time of wind and thunder have only the shell of pearls, and are empty of substance; so the virtues and fine qualities of men, received and nourished in pride, boasting, and vanity, have only the mere appearance of goodness, without sweetness, marrow, or solidity.
Honours, ranks, and dignities are like saffron, which thrives better and grows more abundantly when trampled underfoot. It is no longer an honour to be beautiful when one takes pride in it. Beauty, to be graceful, must be neglected; and learning brings us dishonour when it inflates us with pedantry.
If we are particular about ranks, precedence, and titles, besides exposing our qualities to scrutiny and contradiction, we make them base and contemptible; for honour, so fair when received as a gift, becomes despicable when demanded, sought after, and requested. When the peacock spreads its tail to admire itself, raising its beautiful feathers, it bristles all over, so that it displays what is most ugly about it. When a flower is picked and handled, it soon loses all its lustre; and just as those who smell mandrake from afar, and in passing receive a very sweet fragrance from it, while those who smell it close at hand and for a long time fall into drowsiness and discomfort, so honours pleasantly console those who receive them as they come, without becoming too attached to them, but they are very harmful to those who pursue them eagerly.
Honours, ranks, and dignities are like saffron, which thrives better and grows more abundantly when trampled underfoot. It is no longer an honour to be beautiful when one takes pride in it. Beauty, to be graceful, must be neglected; and learning brings us dishonour when it inflates us with pedantry.
If we are particular about ranks, precedence, and titles, besides exposing our qualities to scrutiny and contradiction, we make them base and contemptible; for honour, so fair when received as a gift, becomes despicable when demanded, sought after, and requested. When the peacock spreads its tail to admire itself, raising its beautiful feathers, it bristles all over, so that it displays what is most ugly about it. When a flower is picked and handled, it soon loses all its lustre; and just as those who smell mandrake from afar, and in passing receive a very sweet fragrance from it, while those who smell it close at hand and for a long time fall into drowsiness and discomfort, so honours pleasantly console those who receive them as they come, without becoming too attached to them, but they are very harmful to those who pursue them eagerly.
Love and the pursuit of virtue begin to make us virtuous; but love and the pursuit of honours begin to make us base and blameworthy. Great souls do not amuse themselves with all this trumpery of rank, honour, and salutations; they have other occupations, and this is fit only for idle minds. He who can have pearls does not burden himself with shells, and those who aspire to virtue little seek after honours. It must be acknowledged, however, that each may take his place according to his rank and keep it, without violating humility, provided he do so carelessly and without pretension; for as those who come from Peru, besides the gold and silver they bring back, also take with them monkeys and parrots, because these cost them little and do not much burden the ship; so those who aspire to virtue do not refuse the rank and honours due to them, provided these cost them little care and attention, and are not attended by trouble, anxiety, disputes, and contentions. I speak not here of those whose dignity concerns the public, nor of certain particular occasions that are of great consequence; for then each must carefully preserve what belongs to him, with a prudence and discretion accompanied by much courtesy and charity.