Spiritual Gems of Elizabeth Ann Seton: Humility
Oh my Jesus! Let me mount to Thee on the steps of humility, on which Thou camest down to me.
Consider, and when you consider, resolve to go meekly to Him. Tell Him you are in want of everything. Beg for the new heart, the right spirit, and that He will teach you to do the things that please Him.
It is in the humble, poor, and helpless He delights to number His greatest mercies so that He may set them as marks to encourage poor sinners.
Patience and humble submission are the only way to gain the blessing of heaven.
Look up: the highest there were the lowest here, and coveted most the poverty and humility which accompanied their and our Master every step of His suffering life.
You must admire how our Lord should have chosen such a one as I to preside, but you know He loves to show His strength in weakness and His wisdom in the ignorant.
The only way to heaven is by humility and patience.
My gracious God! You know my unfitness for this task. I who by my sins have so often crucified You, I blush with shame and confusion. How can I teach others, who know so little myself and am so miserable and imperfect.
O Lord, how worthless this knowledge would be, if it were not for the enlightenment of the mind and the improving of it for Thy service, or for making me more useful to my fellow creatures, better able to fill the part Thy Providence may appoint me.
Cut to the center, tear up every root, let it bleed, let it suffer anything, everything, only fit it for Thyself. Place only Thy love there, and let humility keep sentinel.
