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Friday, May 18, 2018

Always prefer to be taught by all...




#117 "It is not good when we look down on others like heartless judges, lording it over them and always trying to teach them lessons. That is itself a subtle form of violence. Saint John of the Cross proposed a different path: 'Always prefer to be taught by all, rather than to desire teaching even the least of all.' And he added advice on how to keep the devil at bay: 'Rejoice in the good of others as if it were your own, and desire that they be given precedence over you in all things; this you should do wholeheartedly. You will thereby overcome evil with good, banish the devil, and possess a happy heart. Try to practice this all the more with those who least attract you. Realize that if you do not train yourself in this way, you will not attain real charity or make any progress in it.'"

#118. "Humility can only take root in the heart through humiliations. Without them, there is no humility or holiness....
Humiliation makes you resemble Jesus; it is an unavoidable aspect of the imitation of Christ. For 'Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you mkight follow in his steps.' (i Pet 2:21)....

The Pope goes on to explain in #119 that he is not speaking only about stark situations of martyrdom, but about the daily humiliations of those who keep silent to save their families, who prefer to praise others rather than boast about themselves, or who choose the less welcome tasks, at times even choosing to bear an injustice so as to offer it to the Lord.....

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