Marist Humility

One of the three virtues stressed in Marist Spirituality is humility.  For most of us, this is a hard virtue to practice consistently.  Pope Francis, is making headlines for his humble acts and straight-forward words, indeed a contradiction to his desire to do good quietly and humbly. A long time ago he learned what true humility is.  The story is told that when as a young student he was given the "Most Humble" medal at his school, the administration took it away from him the next day because he was wearing it! It is difficult to be humble and not be noticed and acclaimed for it, or in some way to bask in the acclaim received for our humble deeds.
St. Marcellin, coming from his lowly farm life, poor showing in school, and life-long trouble with good grammar and spelling, was "hard-wired", it would seem, for humility.  He kept acknowledging that all was gift from God and Mary's intercession, not from his own efforts and expertise.  He was constantly reminded by his critics, even his fellow priests of his short comings, but persisted in following the graces and inspirations he received.  He must have loved the story of the leper who, on his knees, begged Jesus to be made clean. He felt no entitlement, no right to be cured, but acknowledged the need of a power beyond him to remove his affliction.  So elated was he with the answer from Jesus, I will it.  Be made clean, (Mk 1: 41), that despite the admonition not to tell anyone, except the priest about the healing, he went about broadcasting it everywhere.  This was not pride, but recognition of the Giver and the gift.  Would that our attitude could be the same.  I can be, if, like Marcellin, we remember who we are, where we came from, the Giver and the gift.
Bro. Rene