The Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee (source)
Abba Dorotheos on Pride and Humility
There are two kinds of humility, as there are two kinds of pride. The first kind of pride is when a man reproaches his brother, condemns and reviles him as someone of no account, regarding himself as his superior. If such a man does not speedily come to his senses and try to mend his ways, he comes, little by little, to the second kind of pride, which puffs itself up in the face of God Himself and ascribes to itself its achievements and virtues, as though the man has done it all himself, with his own intelligence and knowledge, and not with the help of God. From this can be seen what constitutes the two kinds of humility. The first humility consists in considering that one’s brother has better judgment and is in all things superior to oneself — or in considering oneself below all men. The second humility consists in ascribing one’s achievements to God. This is the perfect humility of the saints.
(source)
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
1 comment:
One often comes across mentions of the two types of humility, but Abba Dorotheos' description of how they are preceded by the two types of pride is especially helpful. Thanks for including all that here. Your blog is really a mini course in the tremendous wisdom of the Fathers.
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