Whoever us Humble is the Greatest

Be recollected; whoever pours himself out on exterior things quickly loses the graces he has acquired.  A full jewel box is always kept closed.  Humility:  Avoid all those words which can draw down on you glory, esteem, or the appreciation of others.  Let us listen unwillingly (without interest or reflection) and with interior reluctance to the words of those who praise or commend us.  It is dangerous to listen to one's own praise in the mouths of others.  It makes one lose his good judgment.  When others praise us let us keep our sins before our eyes.  In this way we shall judge ourselves unworthy of any commendation, and consequently we shall find an occasion for being ashamed of ourselves and for humbling ourselves.  Rejoice when you hear others praised.  Jealousy, attachment to one's own glory, is a defect.  Never do anything so that men may see and esteem you.  Never do anything out of human respect.  Do everything perfectly, because you are working in God's presence, for God and not for men.  In every situation think more about loving than about working.  Don't offer excuses when you make a mistake.  Don't cast the blame on others.  Do not offend by sarcasm those who correct you.  Do not renounce in advance your errors which someone is trying to point out to you.  Practice for a long time and with zeal until you succeed in willing that your defects may not remain hidden any longer, and until you learn how to rejoice when others judge you imperfect.  Do this to make up for your errors.  When you are reproved unjustly, do not excuse yourself.  Cut short all thoughts of pride...  Willingly accept every opportunity for humbling yourself.  Don't be offended at a harsh word, an imperious tone of voice, not being respected as much as you would like to be.  Welcome occasions of being disregarded and humiliated, first with patience, then willingly, without raising any difficulties, and finally with joy.  That will be perfect humility.  Make acts of humility (as also of the other virtues on which you are interiorly examining yourself), beginning with a rather small number of them; then increase these continually, and make more and more progress.  This, in fact, is how one acquires a good habit and makes it grow strong.  Humility is the foundation of the virtues.

Saint Maximilian Kolbe

-Saint Maximilian (1941) was a Polish Conventual Fransciscan priest who was martyred in Auschwitz.