Flower of Devotion

On one occasion the Blessed Mother said to St. Bridget:

“My humility presents itself to lovers of the world as contemptible, and they think it superstitious to imitate it. For what is more contemptuous to a man if he is called a fool, and he does not even show anger or deny it? What is more disagreeable than to leave all earthly goods and to endure poverty and want? What is more painful for the people of the world than to hide from the public the injustice done to them, and to consider themselves less worthy and inferior to others, and to appear as such before others? Such was My humility, My daughter! All of My joy and all of My will was to think of nothing but that by which I could please My Creator and My Son.
And this humility has a threefold benefit to all who imitate it. First, it helps against human shame and contempt. For the shame of men depresses a man who is impatient and unaware of the future, and deprives his heart of love. Whoever observes humility diligently, let him remember what I, the ruler of all things, have endured in this respect, and let him seek My glory and not your own. Let him consider that words are nothing but air, and he will soon find refreshment. For why are the people of the world so impatient with abusive words and speeches, if not because they seek their own glory rather than the glory of God? And there is no humility in them at all, for their eyes are filled with sins. Wherefore, although justice says that slanderous speeches are not to be heard or endured without cause, yet it is a virtue and merit that a man patiently accepts and bears them for the love of God.
Secondly, My humility protects against friendship for carnal reasons. For there is friendship by which man enjoys love for the things of the moment. Thus do those who say, “Honor me as I honor thee,
for I care little what honor befalls me in the future.” It is a friendship that is cold, without the warmth of God, hard as snow, frozen in love and pity for one’s neighbor, fruitless in its reward. For after the company has dispersed, and the feast is over, all the use of such friendship ceases. Whoever imitates My humility does good to all for the love of God, both to enemies and friends. To their friends, because they are constantly seeking the glory of God, and to their enemies, because they are also God’s creatures, and perhaps because they are future godly men.

Thirdly My humility guards against the lusts of the flesh. The body has three specific things: hearing, sight, and feeling. By sight it desires everything it sees. But what is this desire, if not a feeling which induces him to accumulate, a feeling which fills him with care, distracts him by greedy thoughts, and grieves him with the loss of the goods which he already possesses? And because the body has hearing, man readily accepts the praises spoken to him, and all that the friendship of the world speaks to him. Man listens to everything that is pleasing to the body and harmful to the soul. What is all this but snow, which thaws early but cools the soul for God and hardens the soul against the conflagration? And because the body has feelings, man feels desire and comfort. But what is this, but concupiscence, which renders the soul barren in spiritual things, strong for worldly things, and soft for the pleasures of the flesh? Whoever wishes to guard against these weaknesses should have recourse to My humility and imitate it. By it he will guard against the lust of the eyes, so that he will not desire anything illicit. He will keep the pleasure of hearing, so that he will hear nothing contrary to the truth. He will guard against the lust of the flesh, so that he will not fall into forbidden customs.
Truly I say to you, the contemplation of My humility is like a good cloak that warms the one who wears it. That is, the one who not only ponders My humility, but also observes it in deeds. For even the bodily cloak warms when it is worn. In the same way, My humility is of no benefit to those who only think of it and do not try to imitate it to the best of their ability.
In the same way, My daughter, you will not benefit from My humility unless you first despise the love of the world; if you do not continually meditate on God’s mercy toward you and your ingratitude toward Him; if you do not remember what you have done and what you will do and what you deserve at the judgment of my Son.
For why did I humble myself so much, or by what did I deserve such a favor, if not by thinking and knowing that I was nothing of myself and that I possessed nothing? That is why I have never sought My glory, but only the glory of the Giver and Creator. Therefore, My daughter, take refuge under the mantle of My humility and believe that you are a greater sinner than all other people. Because even though you see some people who are bad, you don’t know what will happen to them tomorrow. Henceforth, do not exalt yourself above any of them, nor judge anyone in your heart.