Weakness and humility

If we are not humble, deeply humble, it is easy to end up with a deformed conscience. It may well happen that, through weakness, we do wrong. But we must have clear ideas and a clear conscience. What we cannot do is commit acts that are wrong and say that they are holy.

Without humility, consciences are deformed

The less humility there is, the more serious the consequences of the conscience’s deformation. Some people are not content merely with tranquillising their consciences subjectively, but regard themselves as heralds of a new morality, missionaries and prophets of these evil claims, and they spread their errors with the fervour of a new crusade. They draw along in their wake those who are weak, who find in these new doctrines a justification for their own depravities, and who in this way feel dispensed from the unpleasantness of rectification, which for humble people is a joyful duty.

Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, “It shall be well with you”; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, “No disaster shall come upon you” … They lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the Lord (Jer 23:16-17,32). If, after reading these words from Holy Scripture, you tell me that it is difficult for an ordinary soul to discern, I will give you a reliable rule for judging: first, love for the Blessed Virgin Mary, and then obedience, which is the touchstone of true humility.