Mothers Group Reflection #17: Isn't St. Patrick's Day Just About Green Beer?
My husband and I
walked into a church function one St. Patrick’s Day. We were
looking for a place to sit and found an empty table toward the back
since the others were pretty full already, thinking surely others
would join us. And we waited. And we waited. Considering I was one of
the biggest class nerds growing up, this situation was quickly
becoming uncomfortable for me. I kept suggesting to my husband that
maybe we should move to a different spot. After all, half the fun of
going was to interact with others. In his usual calm manner in these
situations, he just stayed his ground and sat enjoying his drink
while we waited for things to start. It wasn’t until the very last
minute that our entire table filled in, and one of our deacons sat
down next to me. No pressure.
What I first saw as
a totally awkward social situation turned out to be a divine
appointment. There was quite a bit of free time for conversation at
the start of the event and he quickly learned that I am a convert,
and a pretty passionate one at that. I think I gave him a good run
for his money. After awhile he just sat back in his seat, with an
approving grin, and suddenly said, “Oh, you’ll appreciate this!”
He reached into his jacket pocket and produced a relic.
Of St. Patrick.
I am not even
kidding! Here I sat, holding a relic of THE St. Patrick on THE day!
Sadly, I had no idea who this saint really was. In my years as a
Protestant, I seriously thought St. Patrick’s Day was just an
excuse for people, who weren’t even Irish, to drink too much green
beer and wear really bad fashions. Not a clue.
So, of course, the
first thing I did when I got home was to search the web for St.
Patrick. I found out that he was a very humble man. He was born in
Britain, was captured and enslaved in Ireland for a number of years,
before finally escaping and returning to his family. He became a
priest and later a bishop, at which point he returned to Ireland to
preach the Gospel message, often by using the shamrock to illustrate
the concept of the Holy Trinity. He was known for his humility,
gentleness, fearlessness, and deep love and devotion to God (for more
information on his life, go to
https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=89).
The humility of St. Patrick was the very virtue I needed most at the
time, and here God produced one of the best intercessors for this
very thing! I have since made it a point to really learn about this
virtue and to try my best to put it into practice, despite my many
failures at times.
I don’t believe it
is a coincidence that St. Patrick’s Day falls during Lent, as it
has been said over and over again by the saints that humility is the
foundation of all virtue. St. Augustine once said, “Humility is the
foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this
virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere
appearance.” Since we are seeking to grow in virtue and to curb
vice, what better virtue to focus on this week as we prepare for the
Feast of St. Patrick?
As I sought to learn
more about this virtue, I turned to the dictionary, as I often do
when I’m struggling for understanding of the virtues (or vices). It
helps me to clarify my thoughts and feelings as I study the actual
meaning of the word. Humility is defined as a lack of pride, marked
by meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude or spirit; showing
deferential or submissive respect; of low rank or station;
unpretentious. As St. Patrick was also gentle, which is a close
cousin, that definition seems helpful also. Gentle is defined as
considerate or kindly in disposition; amiable; not harsh, severe or
violent; easily managed or handled.
The things I have
learned to appreciate most about this virtue have been personified by
some really great people I have known, especially recently. Humility
is quiet. It doesn’t draw attention to itself or feel the need to
showcase it’s talents, virtues, etc. It just is. It is
self-forgetfulness, not self-criticism or self-abasement, which also
feed the ego in their own way. As some say, and it’s still not
entirely clear where the quote originated, “humility is not
thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” I
have noticed that humility is the springboard for holiness, a
holiness that is contagious. The people that most personify this
virtue in my life don’t have to do anything special, but BE holy.
Because the ego isn’t getting in the way to steal the spotlight or
control a situation, holiness has a way of just seeping out over time
and hopefully positively affecting those who come in contact with
such a person.
I often equate
humility in life with interior freedom. It is choosing to be good
simply because God is good. It is choosing to see God in the face of
all others and treating them how I would want to be treated,
regardless of age, rank, gender, religion, whether they are a friend,
enemy, etc. In the face of disagreement, it is taking the time to
ask, “how do you see this?” and respecting the other’s answer,
whether or not I agree with them. It is less concerned with being
right, and more concerned with love of neighbor, even when this
requires us to draw a boundary out of love. It wants what is best for
all involved and seeks God’s will in all things.
I close today with
one of my favorite writings about humility. I invite you to pray this
prayer at some point during the week ahead, with a heart open to the
beautiful virtues God wishes to bestow on you during this Lenten
journey. And know that there is a wonderful saint in heaven cheering
you on in your journey.
Verse for the
week:
Therefore, since
we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay
aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run
with perseverance the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1
NRSVCE
The Litany of
Humility by Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val
O Jesus! Meek and
humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of
being esteemed,
Deliver me,
Jesus.
From the desire of
being loved…
From the desire of
being extolled…
From the desire of
being honored…
From the desire of
being praised…
From the desire of
being preferred to others…
From the desire of
being consulted…
From the desire of
being approved…
From the fear of
being humiliated…
From the fear of
being despised…
From the fear of
suffering rebukes…
From the fear of
being calumniated...
From the fear of
being forgotten…
From the fear of
being ridiculed…
From the fear of
being wronged…
From the fear of
being suspected…
That others may be
loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me
the grace to desire it.
That others may be
esteemed more than I…
That, in the opinion
of the world,
others may increase
and I may decrease…
That others may be
chosen and I set aside…
That others may be
praised and I unnoticed...
That others may be
preferred to me in everything…
That others may
become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…
(source:
https://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/prayers/humility.htm)
Photo Credit: Quentin Rey, StockSnap.io
Photo Credit: Quentin Rey, StockSnap.io
.jpg)
