To commemorate this 400th anniversary year for the Congregation of the Mission, Fr. Ray Van Dorpe, C.M., offers insite into the Vincentian Vows and Virtues in this monthly series: What Makes a Vincentian?
Humility has gotten a bad name in the modern world. To be humble or to be humbled can connote a sense of low self-esteem and/or opening oneself to being used or even abused. In the writings of the saints, including St. Vincent de Paul, humility often comes across that way. However, prescinding from the context of seventeenth century spirituality, the Vincentian practice of humility today is actually affirmative and helpful. The English writer, C.S. Lewis expressed this well when he wrote, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” (Mere Christianity)
The word itself is instructive. “Humility” comes from the Latin word “humus,” meaning earth or soil. So, we are reminded that we are material creatures, born of the earth, and as such we have limitations. At the beginning of Lent, we are reminded of this when the ashes are placed on our foreheads and the minister says, “Remember you are dust, and to dust you will return.” We are not perfect. We are sinners all, and the word “humility” reminds us that we are earthly creatures with faults, weaknesses, and limitations.
Yet, humility is a strong reminder that we are gifted by God, and that every good thing we have and every good thing we are able to do can be traced back to the gifts that God has given us, beginning with our very lives. In a letter to a confrere, St. Vincent wrote, “Be very much on your guard against attributing anything to yourself. By doing so you would commit robbery and do injury to God, who alone is the author of every good thing.” (CCD, VII) This sense of giftedness leads us to the joy of celebrating God’s many gifts to us and renews our trust in God’s providential care. Vincentians believe God will gift us with whatever we need to further our mission.
Humility creates a strong sense of gratitude in a Vincentian and opens us to recognize and receive the gifts that others bring to our lives and our ministry. Working alongside our collaborators, we acknowledge their giftedness as well as our own. The virtue of humility, when practiced this way, helps us work strongly with others. As members of the one Body of Christ, as St. Paul reminds us, we are all gifted differently but all working as one to bring the Good News to the poor.
Another benefit of humility, in connection with what has already been said, is that it helps us to serve others. Humility moves us to evangelize, but more importantly, humility opens us up to being evangelized by others, especially by the poor. We don’t have all the answers, and we don’t have all the graces we need. As followers of St. Vincent, we strive to be humble enough to allow others bring us the Good News of Jesus Christ.