BY THOMAS A KEMPIS Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur, 1941 ------Book 2------ CHAPTER 2: OF HUMBLE SUBMISSION MAKE no great account of who may be for thee or against thee, but mind and take care that God be with thee in everything thou dost. Have a good conscience, and God will sufficiently defend thee; for he whom God will help, no man's malice can hurt. If thou knowest only how to be silent and to endure, doubt not that thou shalt experience help from the Lord. He knoweth the time and the manner of thy deliverance; and, therefore, it is thy part to resign thyself into His hands. It belongs to God to help us and deliver us from all confusion. Many a time it is a great advantage to us, for the keeping us in greater humility, that others know and reprehend our faults. 2. When a man humbleth himself for his faults, then he really pacifieth others, and easily satisfieth those who are angry with him. The humble man God protecteth and delivereth; the humble He loveth and consoleth; to the humble He inclineth Himself; on the humble He bestoweth bounteous grace; and after he hath been brought low, raiseth him up unto glory.   To the humble He revealeth His secrets, and sweetly inviteth and draweth him unto Himself. The humble man, in the midst of reproaches, remaineth in great peace; for his dependence is on God, and not on the world. Never think that thou hast thyself made any progress until thou feel that thou art inferior to all. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.   How easy it is, when we are approved of, esteemed, and praised by others, to say we are unworthy of such honor, and deserve only contempt! To know whether we speak the truth, let us see if we should say the same under contempt. Upon this point I am resolved to accept, as from the hands of God, all the evil that may be said or done against me, as my due; and, far from murmuring, I will bless the Lord for permitting others to do me justice, that He may show me mercy; esteeming it too great a happiness to die, and to be extinguished in the minds of men, that I may live only in the mind of God by the love of contempt, and the practice of true humility. PRAYER. THOU knowest, O God, how sensible I am to contradictions, calumnies, and contempt. Everything revolts within me when I have occasion to suffer them. But I know also that what is impossible to me is easy to Thee, and that, supported and fortified by the help of Thy grace, I can patiently endure humiliations, which, of myself, I should receive with murmurs and vexation. Grant, then, O my Savior, that, imbued with Thy maxims, and animated with Thy Spirit, I may regard with horror the glory, esteem, and praise which so often render me contemptible in Thy sight; and, on the contrary, receive injuries and affronts with submission and gratitude, that so I may hope to become the object of Thy love and the possessor of eternal glory. Amen. Contact Us HOME----------------------------------CATHOLIC CLASSICS www.catholictradition.org/Classics/christ3-2.htm