Humility is not about putting yourself down or walking around saying you’re unworthy. In this powerful episode of The Inner Life, host Patrick Conley and spiritual director Msgr. Thomas Richter show that true Catholic humility is about living in awe of God’s generosity and recognizing that every single good thing — including your desire for holiness — comes from Him.
You can listen to the entire hour here.
Humility in Prayer
The Catechism says it plainly: “Humility is the foundation of prayer.” That means we pray not as the source of goodness, but as receivers of God’s gifts.
So, humility isn’t saying, “I’m not good enough.”
It’s saying, “This goodness in my life isn’t mine. It’s God’s gift.”
When you ask God for patience, forgiveness, or peace, the very fact that you want those things proves He’s already moving in your soul. That holy longing is His desire planted in your heart.
Saint Thérèse and the Desire for Holiness
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux felt small next to the spiritual giants of her day. But instead of giving up, she clung to God’s promise: “God cannot inspire unrealizable desires.”
If He has stirred in you a longing for holiness, it’s His plan. God draws you into holiness by giving you the very desire for it.
What This Means for You
If you’ve felt stuck in your prayer life, worn out from trying so hard, or restless for something more, here’s the good news: that restlessness is the beginning of God’s work.
Your spiritual hunger is a gift to receive.
Stop striving in your own strength. Hold that longing up to Him. Rest in it. Let God do the heavy lifting.
Key Takeaways on Catholic Humility
-God is the source of every good, even your desire for prayer.
-Humility is awe before God’s goodness, not self-loathing.
-Growth in holiness begins when you simply bring your desire to Him.
-If it’s a holy longing, God put it there. He is already working.
True humility unlocks peace. It gets you out of your head and into the relationship your heart was made for.
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