Have you ever noticed that every saint practiced humility? If they were prideful and full of themselves in the beginning, they learned humility by the time they achieved sanctity. St. John Vianney calls humility the string that holds the beads of our virtues together. A person without humility finds that their string breaks and all their beads of virtue roll away...

In the picture above, taken at the Cave of St. Mary Magdalen in France, we see three shining examples of humility. Our Lord humbled Himself even to the death of the Cross. His Mother humbled herself at every moment too, accepting the greatest honor ever offered by a creature by the simple words, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord." And Mary Magdalen humbled herself into the dust repeatedly, always taking her place at Our Lord's Feet, whether to wash Them, or to cry over Them. And when she got to France, she hid herself away humbly in a cave to weep and pray because of her former sins.

One of the best books I've come across on this invaluable virtue is called The Path to Humility by Leopold Beaudenom. It can be read in small pieces each day, taking time to ponder and meditate on each thought.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini gives us this bit of wisdom:

"Many often complain of not being heard, though they pray much, but, if they become humble, as Jesus desires, and practice humility, then they will be heard quickly, for the key which opens the celestial treasures is humility."