The humble person never claims glory for himself but gives all credit to God for anything good that he does. The humble person accepts that he is not perfect on his own and is dependent both on God and on other people. Humility is important for spouses because it keeps them exactly where they are needed the most: in their home, raising their children, and in the workplace, providing for their family. The opposite of humility is pride, which can lead parents to abandon their families in pursuit of their own “fulfillment.”
St. Patrick exemplified humility in his life. In his autobiography, his Confessio, he
described himself as “a sinner, a simple country person, and the least of all
believers.” He gave his life in service to God, embracing poverty to bring the
Faith to Ireland, a land in which he had previously been held as a slave. The Lorica of Saint Patrick is a
beautiful prayer that focuses on our dependence on God for protection against
the forces of evil in the world:
I arise today
Through
a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through
a belief in the Threeness,
Through
confession of the Oneness
Of the
Creator of creation.
I arise today
Through
the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism,
Through
the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through
the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through
the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today
Through
the strength of the love of cherubim,
In
obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the
hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the
prayers of patriarchs,
In
preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In
innocence of virgins,
In deeds
of righteous men.
I arise today
Through
the strength of heaven;
Light of
the sun,
Splendor
of fire,
Speed of
lightning,
Swiftness
of the wind,
Depth of
the sea,
Stability
of the earth,
Firmness
of the rock.
I arise today
Through
God's strength to pilot me;
God's
might to uphold me,
God's
wisdom to guide me,
God's
eye to look before me,
God's
ear to hear me,
God's
word to speak for me,
God's
hand to guard me,
God's
way to lie before me,
God's
shield to protect me,
God's
hosts to save me
From
snares of the devil,
From
temptations of vices,
From everyone who desires
me ill,
Afar and
anear,
Alone or
in a mulitude.
I summon today all these powers
between me and evil,
Against
every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul,
Against
incantations of false prophets,
Against
black laws of pagandom,
Against
false laws of heretics,
Against
craft of idolatry,
Against
spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against
every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ
shield me today
Against
poison, against burning,
Against
drowning, against wounding,
So that
reward may come to me in abundance.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ
in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ
on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ
when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ
in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ
in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ
in the eye that sees me,
Christ
in the ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation
St. Patrick (ca. 377)
Dear Lord, through the intercession of St. Patrick, please increase in this couple the virtue of humility, so that they will spend the remaining years of their lives in service to You. As they come to the end of their child-raising and working years, guide them to new paths of service for the Glory of Your Kingdom. Amen.
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