This week’s topic is the virtue of humility.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls humility the “foundation of prayer” as well as a “poverty of spirit.” To live with a spirit of poverty, in need of our God, now that is true humility.

With every virtue comes an opposing vice. Since humility can be described as a willingness to submit to God and to others for God’s sake, then pride can be considered the queen of all vices because, as Saint Thomas stated, pride at its core is the rejection of God in favor of oneself.

This poses a serious question: when coming to God in prayer, do we speak from a posture of pride and our own will, or do we humble ourselves before the Lord and His Will? We know from Luke 18 that the exalted will be humbled and the humbled, exalted. How is this done? We must acknowledge that we are imperfect sinners and ask for God’s mercy. Only through this trusting humility can we be brought into communion with our Father.

Pride is a sin that “cries to heaven.” Putting your trust in the world before your trust in God will put you into a posture of pride. Remember: “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.” —Saint Augustine

Lord, we ask that your Holy Spirit of humility may be showered down upon your children. Help us to die to ourselves and take the opportunities you give us to practice and grow in humility. Please protect us from the temptation of pride that comes from the evil one.

Thank you so much again for praying along with us and all of The Prayer Podcast listeners. Our hope is that we are able to provide you with another tool to bring you closer to God.

If you have any specific prayer intentions, questions, or feedback for The Prayer Podcast, please check out: theprayerpodcast.fm/podcasts to connect with us. We are also available on all social media platforms.

If you are interested in supporting this ministry, please visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/theprayerpodcast.

Thank you and may God bless you!