CCCXXXV – Humility & The Diamond Exhibit

The motif at a recent meeting of the Legion of Mary was Humility. Mary was the first Disciple of Jesus, and demonstrated the greatest aptitude for virtue of the human race; Mary was the ideal of humility—in the Magnificat she tells the Lord that He has looked with favor on His lowly servant!

Joseph, however, demonstrates a different flavor of humility. Joseph demonstrates a humility of obedience and service. I note in a previous article that Joseph demonstrates humility when he disappears from the Gospels, having completed the work asked of him.

These two kinds of humility are like a Diamond in a glass case. The Diamond is humble because it is simple, unassuming, pure and bright. We exalt the diamond by adorning it with gold and displaying it prominently, but this diamond was taken from a lowly place—a deep mine, under a continent, and by the grace of God was found immaculate, and destined for some greater purpose. Yet still—the diamond in and of itself neither boasts nor brags, it simply is. The diamond still thinks of itself as a rock under a continent, yet by grace has found itself in this display, an example for all to see and emulate.

The glass case of the diamond has an important job to protect the diamond. Yet it does so without obstructing the view, or calling attention to itself. It does it’s job quietly but effectively, boasting no ornamentation of its own or complexity in its design. The glass case knows it is just a glass case, and doesn’t desire anything more. It’s pride and joy is in effectively protecting, and glorifying, the diamond.

These are just some thoughts I had. It is helpful to think of humility in these two different ways: the first, in remembering ones origins even if accepting the exaltation of another; the second, in unassuming and simple work, glorifying another and/or God through that work.

AMDG

CCLXXIX – Vanishing Act

Commenter Buckyinky, in an article at his own space, talked about the phenomenon of Choirs socially distancing during performances. In a comment in reply, I realized that teams and organizations are cultures in microcosm, and that “There must be a desire to disappear into the culture, not a desire to stand apart from it.”

In response, Buckyinky made the innovative connection to the Litany of Humility: “Interesting how this goes hand in hand with many Saints’ spiritual writings on the virtue of humility. As in Cardinal del Val’s Litany of Humility, ‘From the desire of being esteemed…loved…extolled..honored…etc…deliver us’ “

These two thoughts differ only in scale. The word assimilate means to make similar, and when things are very similar they are indistinguishable. To assimilate into a culture then means to appear as if one never needed to assimilate in the first place–you can go to the grocery store, celebrate on holidays, and drive your kids to school just like all the locals. When in Rome, you do as the Romans do, and learn to think of yourself as Roman too. Individualism is deleterious to culture because it encourages people to stand out, and celebrates people for the mere fact of being different.

There are three words which describe how someone might approach this idea: Conformity, Assimilation, and Humility. Conformity means “to make agreeable”–literally, “to form together”. The colloquial connotation is that conformity means blindly following some herd. Certainly, that is very agreeable to the herd to blindly follow them, but it is not utilizing your talents or capabilities to the fullest. Colloquially then, conformity means to survive by being least objectionable to the herd, your focus is on the herd and not on anything else. You are actively trying not to think about your actions, but trying to follow the path of least resistance. Agreeable, but this kind of conformity never formed anyone into a higher being. Paths of least resistance lead down.

Assimilation, you might argue, has the same effect. The key difference is that you arrive at it differently. Assimilation is a deliberate effort to adopt customs and habits. The focus with Assimilation is less the crowd and more on yourself–you are trying to improve yourself to the point that you attain some advantage in your local culture.

Humility is wholly different. Humility is the practice of making onesself increasingly private, keeping ones interactions with the local culture agreeable because you are demonstrating restraint and not because you are a welcome-mat. This restraint does not change ones practices to be more agreeable to the local culture, but keeps prying local eyes out of ones private affairs.

Buckyinky’s connection to the Litany of Humility is striking because the examples he picks out are examples of one asking Jesus to give us the desire to not be superlative. Humility doesn’t seek esteem because esteem involves people in ones private affairs, it means people know about a thing you did and like that thing.

Which Saint can we turn to for a demonstration in this practice of Humility which disappears from view? None other than St. Joseph–his presence in the Gospels is brief but effective, and when his turn is done he is noted no further, not even to note his passing from this life. St. Joseph literally vanishes into the Gospels.

Lord, help me to disappear from view. Help me to seek no recognition for my good deeds; help me to commit no deeds which dishonor You. Lord, may I grow in the virtue and practice of humility, for your honor and glory. St. Joseph, pray for us!

AMDG