Thursday, December 5 : Blessed Columba Marmion

The nearer we would draw to God, the more deeply we must anchor ourselves in humility. St. Augustine shows us this very clearly in a familiar comparison. ” The end, ” he says, ” that we pursue is very great ; for it is God Whomwe seek, to Whom we would attain, for in Him alone is to be found our eternal beatitude. Now we can only come to this lofty end through humility. Dost thou wish to raise thyself? Begin by abasing thyself. Thou dost dream of building an edifice that will tower towards the skies ? Take care first of all to lay the foundation by humility ” And the higher the building is to be, adds the holy Doctor, the deeper must the foundations be dug: the more so in that the soil of our poor nature is singularly shifting and unstable. Now to what height dost thou aspire to raise this spiritual edifice ? As high as the vision of God” See then, ” he exclaims, ” to what a sublime height this edifice must be raised what a thing it is to see God ; but it is not reached by self- elevation, but by humility ”

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team