On Certain Temptations Against Humility

[Weedy]

On Certain Temptations Against Humility

It is not easy to be humble when we are praised and flattered. Our
self-love sucks in with eagerness the words of compliment. We think
they must be partly true, or at least we are tempted to exult in the
high opinion that others profess of us. Such occasions are very
perilous to humility. We should do well to think of Herod when the
people listened to his oration, and shouted out: "It is the voice of a
god and not of a man." We read that because he took the glory to
himself instead of giving it to God, he was smitten down by the Angel
of the Lord and died miserably. (Acts xii.)

Yet we cannot help being pleased when others speak kindly of us, and
we ought to be pleased when our superiors commend us. But we must
observe certain precautions. (1) We must take care to rejoice rather
in the kindness of others than in their praise. (2) We must strive and
forget ourselves, and raise our heart to God, and offer Him our
success. (3) We must make an act of humility at the thought that if
those who praise us saw us as God sees us, they would despise, not
honor us.

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December 29th - St. Trophimus of Arles

Memorial
29 December (Roman calendar)
30 September (translation of relics)
4 January (Greek calendar)

Died c. 280.
Trophimus, the first bishop of Arles whose cathedral of
St. Trophime now honors his memory, is often confused with the
Trophimus mentioned by St. Paul. The bishop Trophimus was sent from
Rome to Gaul about 240-260. Saint Gregory of Tours (died 594)
testifies that Trophimus was one of several bishops associated with
Saint Sernin of Toulouse, who founded the famous sees of France and
with St. Denis.

The cultus of Trophimus is ancient. Writing to the bishops of Gaul in
417, Pope Zozimus mentioned him as being sent by the papacy to preach
and found the church of Arles. His church contains a 3rd century
crypt, which was discovered in 1835.

Paul's disciple was a gentile convert from Ephesus who accompanied the
Apostle on his third missionary journey (Acts 20:4) and to Jerusalem,
where his presence (as a gentile) in the Temple provoked violent
protests against Paul that almost resulted in his death (Acts
21:26-36). Paul mentions him again in 2 Timothy 4:20, saying he "left
Trophimus ill at Miletus."

Since the Synod of Arles in 452, the church of Provence has identified
their first bishop with St. Paul's disciple, but this is clearly an
impossibility. In essence, both are honored today because of the
confusion (Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Farmer).

In art, St. Trophimus is a bishop carrying his eyes. The picture may
show (1) his eyes being put out, (2) him with lions, or (3) surrounded
by the Apostles. (He was identified with the Trophimus who was a
disciple of St. Paul.) He is the patron of children and invoked
against drought (Roeder).Canonized Pre-Congregation


Saint Quote:
The saints understood how great an outrage sin is against God. Some of
them passed their lives in weeping for their sins. St. Peter wept all
his life; he was still weeping at his death. St. Bernard used to say,
"Lord! Lord! it is I who fastened You to the Cross!"
--St. Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney, the Cure of Ars

Bible Quote:
And in doing good, let us not fail. For in due time we shall reap, not
failing. Therefore, whilst we have time, let us work good to all men,
but especially to those who are of the household of the faith. (Gal.
6:9) DRB


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An Exile for the Faith
Trans. from the Latin
Fr Edward Caswall C. Orat. (1814–1878)

An exile for the faith
Of thy Incarnate Lord,
Beyond the stars, beyond all space,
Thy soul imprisoned soared:
There saw in glory Him,
Who liveth and was dead;
There Judah’s Lion and the Lamb
That for our ransom bled.

There of the Kingdom learnt
The mysteries sublime;
How, sown in Martyrs’ blood, the faith
Should spread from clime to clime.
The Holy City, bathed
In her dear Spouse’s Light,
Pure seat of bliss, thy spirit saw
And gloried in the sight.

Now to the Lamb’s clear fount,
To drink of life their fill,
Thou callest all; O Lord, in me
This blessed thirst instil.
To Jesus, Virgin-born,
Praise with the Father be,
Praise to the Spirit Paraclete,
Through all eternity.
Amen.