The danger of vainglory, and considerations to remedy it
November 2, 2021 • 2 min
From The Sinner’s Guide, page 327
By Venerable Louis of Granada
Consider also the danger of vainglory, the daughter of pride, which as St. Bernard says, enters lightly but wounds deeply.
Therefore, when men praise you, think whether you really possess the qualities for which they commend you. If you do not you have no reason to be proud. But if you have justly merited their praise, remember the gifts of God, and say with the Apostle: “By the grace of God I am what I am.” [1 Cor. xv. 10.]
Humble yourself, then, when you hear the song of praise, and refer all to the glory of God. Thus you will render yourself not unworthy of what He bestows upon you.
For it is incontestable that the respect men pay you, and the good for which they honor you, are due to God. You rob Him, therefore, of all the merit which you appropriate to yourself. Can any servant be more unfaithful than one who steals his master’s glory?
Consider, moreover, how unreasonable it is to rate your merit by the inconstant opinion of men who to-day are for you, and to-morrow against you; who to-day honor you, and to-morrow revile you.
If your merit rests upon so slight a foundation, at one time you will be great, at another base, and again nothing at all, according to the capricious variations of the minds of men.
Oh! no; do not rely upon the vain commendations of others, but upon what you really know of yourself.
Though men extol you to the skies, listen to the warnings of your conscience and accept the testimony of this intimate friend rather than the blind opinion of those who can judge you only from a distance and by what they hear.
Make no account of the judgments of men, but commit your glory to the care of God, Whose wisdom will preserve it for you and Whose fidelity will restore it to you in the sight of Angels and men.
Latest book snippets
Search | Random | 1009 total | 54h 55m
May 28, 2023
The three later Fathers who speak more lowly of Mary are not speaking dogmatically
5 min — St. John Henry Newman’s Letter to Dr. Pusey in reply to his EireniconHow to determine whether a statement is an Apostolic Tradition
5 min — St. John Henry Newman’s Letter to Dr. Pusey in reply to his EireniconHow the three later Fathers can be shown to not be speaking dogmatically about Mary not being sinless
5 min — St. John Henry Newman’s Letter to Dr. Pusey in reply to his EireniconFurther proof that the Anglican understanding of the Fathers’ authority is less consistent than the Catholic
2 min — St. John Henry Newman’s Letter to Dr. Pusey in reply to his EireniconAnswers to objections about why some Fathers and Gospel passages spoke unsatisfactorily about Mary
8 min — St. John Henry Newman’s Letter to Dr. Pusey in reply to his Eirenicon
May 21, 2023
Two quotes of St. Chrysostom that enemies of Mary’s sinlessness incorrectly use against her
3 min — St. John Henry Newman’s Letter to Dr. Pusey in reply to his EireniconAn answer to the accusation that the Fathers claimed Mary was not sinless
7 min — St. John Henry Newman’s Letter to Dr. Pusey in reply to his EireniconA quote from St. Cyril which proponents of Mary’s sinfulness incorrectly use against her
3 min — St. John Henry Newman’s Letter to Dr. Pusey in reply to his EireniconA quote from St. Basil that advocates of the sinfulness of the Blessed Virgin Mary incorrectly use against her
2 min — St. John Henry Newman’s Letter to Dr. Pusey in reply to his Eirenicon