how-to on humility and compassion

Mass this morning at a parish that I sometimes visit.  The priest was a retired monsignor filling in for the vacationing pastor.  He recently turned 80, I think, and I very much enjoy his Masses.  You're never quite sure what you're going to get for a homily - some of them are kind of ADD-like, but always good.  He tells it like it is.

Today he starts off by saying that he remembered yesterday evening, that he had forgotten to tell them something yesterday.  "We talk a lot about humility and compassion," he says, "but how do we get there?  How do we dispose ourselves to receive those graces?" 

First of all - prayer and meditation.  We don't do enough of that, he says.  Especially prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

Secondly - the sacraments. 

Confession.  "We (priests) used to put in long hours in the confesional, but now it's difficult to find a priest in the confessional.  But people don't sin any more.  Or at least they don't think that they do.  That's a road to humility," he says.  "'Bless me Father.... I've been greedy, selfish, arrogant....'  We need to go frequently..monthly is good.  Or if not monthly, then every two months.  But certainly no less than every three months." 

The Eucharist...Jesus humbled himself for us out of compassion.  We are called to imitate Him as we receive Him...to be more like Him....

Just in case you were wondering....