Quote by Romano Guardini, Sacred Signs, K
WHEN a man feels proud of himself, he stands erect, draws himself to his full height, throws back his head and shoulders and says with every part of his body, I am bigger and more important than you. But when he is humble he feels his littleness, and lowers his head and shrinks into himself. He abases himself. And the greater the presence in which he stands the more deeply he abases himself; the smaller he becomes in his own eyes.But when does our littleness so come home to us as when we stand in God's presence? He is the great God, who is today and yesterday, whose years are hundreds and thousands, who fills the place where we are, the city, the wide world, the measureless space of the starry sky, in whose eyes the universe is less than a particle of dust, all-holy, all-pure, all-righteous, infinitely high. He is so great, I so small, so small that beside him I seem hardly to exist, so wanting am I in worth and substance. One has no need to be told that God's presence is not the place in which to stand on one's dignity. To appear less presumptuous, to be as little and low as we feel, we sink to our knees and thus sacrifice half our height; and to satisfy our hearts still further we bow down our heads, and our diminished stature speaks to God and says, Thou art the great God; I am nothing.Therefore let not the bending of our knees be a hurried gesture, an empty form. Put meaning into it. To kneel, in the soul's intention, is to bow down before God in deepest reverence.On entering a church, or in passing before the altar, kneel down all the way without haste or hurry, putting your heart into what you do, and let your whole attitude say, Thou art the great God. It is an act of humility, an act of truth, and everytime you kneel it will do your soul good.http://www.cfpeople.org/Books/Sacred/CFPtoc.htm
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Summary
This quote highlights the contrast between pride and humility. When a person is proud, they exude confidence, dominance, and superiority. In contrast, humility grounds a person's sense of self, making them aware of their smallness and lack of significance in the presence of something greater. Standing in God's presence serves as a stark reminder of our own insignificance, prompting us to lower our heads and humble ourselves. The act of kneeling signifies reverence and acknowledges the greatness of God. By giving meaning to this action and genuflecting with intention, one can truly embody humility and experience the nourishment it bestows upon the soul.