Lenten Reflections, Pt. 2

I just finished reading the meditation for today (er....actually it was yesterday's, but that's beside the point), and I found it so striking that I had to come post it immediately. 

Again, those who struggle with scruples mightn't want to read this.

Meditation 110: Humiliations

Meditation, pp. 323-326

 Many souls would like to be humble, but few desire humiliation; many ask God to make them humble and fervently pray for this, but very few want to be humiliated.  Yet it is impossible to gain humility without humiliations; for just as studying is the way to acquire knowledge, so it is by the way of humiliation that we attain to humility.

Lily-of-the-Valley, the flower symbolizing humility.

Even if in certain situations we succeed in acting humbly,this may well be the result of a superficial and apparent humility rather than of a humility that is real and profound.  Humility is truth; therefore, let us tell ourselves that since we possess nothing ourselves but sin, it is but just that we receive only humiliation and scorn.  If we were really convinced of this truth, we would find it very just that all should humiliate us, treat us without consideration, and despise us.  In fact, what honor and consideration does one deserve who has offended his Creator, when a single sin - even a venial one - is more deplorable and worthy of more contempt than the most miserable earthly condition, the poorest and lowest estate? [...] "I never heard anything bad said of me," said St. Theresa of Jesus, "which I did not clearly realize fell short of the truth.  If I had not sometimes - often, indeed - offended God in the way they referred to, I had done so in many others, and I felt they had treated me far too indulgently in saying nothing about these". 

Also I'd like to share with you a short St. Therese quote, from the day before, speaking of humility and hope though we fail so much.

According to some sources, apple blossoms are a symbol of hope.

Meditation 109: Humility in Our Falls

Colloquy, p. 321

"O Jesus, it is true that I am not always faithful, but I never become discouraged, I cast myself into Your arms,and like a little dewdrop, I sink deeper and deeper int Your chalice, O divine Flower of the field, and there I find all I have lost and much more besides.

Yes, O my God, I am happy to feel little and weak in Your presence, and my heart remains in peace...I am glad to feel so imperfect and to need Your mercy so much!  When we calmly accept the humiliation of being imperfect, Your grace, O Lord, returns at once."

- St. Therese of the Child Jesus

All pictures via Pinterest.