In a comment section of a recent posting Betty asked about my giving her a suggestion about the degrees of humility. So let me explain here that there are three degrees or manners of humility.
The first degree of humility is this: that not for all the pleasure or money or prestige in the world would I break a commandment that binds me under mortal sin. In other words, I need to have at least the degree of humility that would lead me not to argue with God about the 10 Commandments. For one example, the 3rd Commandment binds us to keep the Lord's Day. If I dismiss that commandment as negotiable, then I have a serious lapse in humility. And so on, with the other 9 Commandments.
The second degree of humility leads me to an ever deeper union with our Lord so that I become free of those self-aggrandizing cravings like riches or honor or health or a long life so as to be free to devote myself to whatever the Lord leads me to in service of others. Also, in this degree of humility I don't want to do the least little sin; I don't want to displease the Lord on any matter - not from any kind of anxiety, but from a love of the Lord that is so deep that I want to be totally in accord with His will.
The third degree of humility is the most perfect form of humility and requires attainment of the 1st and 2nd degrees of humility. Now brace yourself for leaning into understanding this 3rd degree.
In the 3rd degree I want to be with Christ as He is now enfleshed in anyone who is in a state of poverty, dishonor, or is considered worthless or a fool. Here I am not ashamed to associate myself with the kinds of people most others ignore or despise. And I do this for the sake of "Christ, Who first was held as such, rather than wise or prudent in this world."
So where do you stand along the spectrum of the 3 degrees of humility?
For further information and an introduction to Ignatian spirituality check out: Theology of the Spiritual Exercises, by John A. Hardon, S. J.
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