The Practice of Humility: 60 Lessons on the Virtue of Virtues

“Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance.” –Saint Augustine Developing the virtue of humility and faithfully endeavoring to practice it is necessary for our salvation. Many times in Sacred Scripture, Our Lord admonishes the proud, elevates the humble, and reminds us that we must become like children to enter into the kingdom of God. Pope Leo XIII, the oldest reigning pope, composed the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel and wrote many encyclicals on the Church’s social teaching and the Rosary. His fidelity to the Church and her many faithful lead him to write this brief but poignant treatise. Within these pages, he delivers sixty lessons filled with practical advice for extinguishing pride and increasing humility. With Pope Leo XIII’s wisdom, by God’s grace, readers will be able to heed Christ’s instruction: “Learn of Me, because I am meek and humble of heart” (Matt. 11:29).

Pope Leo XIII, born Gioacchino Vincenzo Raffaele Luigi Pecci, (2 March 1810 – 20 July 1903) held the papacy from February 20, 1878 until his death in July 20, 1903. He was the oldest pope to hold office passing away at the age of 93. He is best known for his social encyclical, Rerum Novarum, authoring the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, promoting the Rosary and the Scapular, and the revival of Thomism in seminary training. He strongly opposed socialism, laissez-faire capitalism, and emphasized the right to private property. He authored 13 encyclicals on Our Blessed Mother.