Humility, and the Elevation of the Mind to God - Fr. Robert Nixon

The 14th century writer THOMAS À KEMPIS may be best known for his most famous work, The Imitation of Christ, but now a new volume by TAN books they have uncovered an important work simply titled Humility, and the elevation of the mind to God. My guest today is Fr. Robert Nixon, OSB a Catholic priest, and a monk of the Benedictine Abbey of the Most Holy Trinity, in New Norcia, Western Australia. Father Nixon has translated these works, making them available for the first time in the English Language.

[@cynbartek9324]

I've just begun reading The Imitation of Christ in earnest. I give it a million stars.

[@damo780]

What a beautiful prayer. Thankyou for sharing this

[@charisvarnadore9862]

I love the writings of a' Kempis and study them daily. I was quite excited to receive his work on Humility, and spend several days on each short chapter. But, it is difficult for me to understand his use of "achievement and attainment in Chapter One. Admittedly, I am no learned theologian or have a degree in any field of Christianity, but I am still puzzled by his use of these words since I thought that all that we have is "Given by the Grace of God" and not by what we achieve or attain. Thank you for this video since I need and welcome any and all help that I can get on this journey. Charis

[@charisvarnadore9862]

I always believed that Humility was a Grace of God and NOT a Weapon!!!

[@duke927]

I think you are using the meaning of weapon wrong here. Humility is a weapon against pride. Maybe there is a better word here than weapon but grace doesn’t drop out of the sky because you deem yourself “saved” which is more of a Protestant concept. Through conscious action, prayer and penitence, charity, mortification, indifference to the world, receiving the sacraments and other pure Christian avenues grace is achieved but it can be lost quickly and probably most quickly through hidden pride. The old missals in the every day and night prayers section has an examination of conscience to recognize one’s daily sins. Some may be trivial or venal some may be serious or grievous. But frequent confession and Holy Communion are means towards grace. Trying to explain to my Protestant friends that salvation is a constant work in progress and not just a one and done “I’m saved and was saved on (and they give an exact date when they were saved). Catholics should be actively by use of their free will actively working toward their salvation through grace. Well that is how I see it:)

[@murielleleblanc4377]

Being a recovering alcoholic I was taught to show humility I was so ashamed when I took my inventory and realized how wrong I had been . I asked for forgiveness and was granted forgiveness . But for the grace of God ❤

[@charisvarnadore9862]

Good morning. Around minute twenty-one you use the phrase "before we can move on;" somehow I believe it might be "before we ARE moved on by the Grace of God." I sincerely hope I am being disrespectful; I actually consider the book as nearly sacred. Charis