О смиренномудрии

The distinctive features and signs of a person who has true humility are the following: to consider himself a sinner more than good before God, to reproach himself at every time, in every place and for every deed, not to blaspheme anyone and not to find on earth a person who would be more vile, or more sinful, or more negligent than himself, but to praise and glorify everyone, never to condemn, humiliate or slander anyone, at all times remain silent and do not say anything unless ordered or absolutely necessary; when they ask and there is an intention or extreme need forces one to speak and answer, then speak quietly, calmly, rarely, as if under duress and with shame; do not expose yourself to the standard in anything, do not argue with anyone about faith or anything else, but if someone speaks well, say to him: “Yes”; and if it’s bad, answer: “You know”; to be in submission and to abhor one’s will as something harmful; to have a gaze that is always lowered to the ground, to have one’s death before one’s eyes, never to idle talk, not to talk idle talk, not to lie, not to contradict the highest; bear insults, humiliation and losses with joy, hate peace and love work, do not upset anyone, do not hurt anyone’s conscience. These are the signs of true humility; and blessed is he who has them, because here he is still beginning to be called the house and church of God, and God dwells in him, and he becomes the heir of the Heavenly Kingdom. Amen. You might be interested in: