Saint Josemaria
Quotations from Saint Josemaria

Like Children

Tags: Humility, Spiritual childhood
And they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, What were you discussing on the way? But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.
And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them, Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.
(Mk 9:33-37)

Doesn’t this way Jesus has of doing things move us to love him? He teaches them the doctrine and then, to enable them to understand it, he gives them a living example. He calls a little child, one of the children running around the house, and he lovingly embraces him. How eloquent Our Lord’s silence is! With it he has already said everything. He loves those who become as little children. He then adds that the reward for this simplicity, for this humility of spirit, is the joy of being able to embrace him and his Father who is in heaven.
Friends of God, 102


At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, and said, Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
(Mk 9:33-37)

To become children we must renounce our pride and self-sufficiency, recognizing that we can do nothing by ourselves. We must realize that we need grace, and the help of God our Father to find our way and keep to it. To be little, you have to abandon yourself as children do, believe as children believe, beg as children beg.
And we learn all this through contact with Mary... . Because Mary is our mother, devotion to her teaches us to be authentic children: to love truly, without limit; to be simple, without the complications which come from selfishly thinking only about ourselves; to be happy, knowing that nothing can destroy our hope. The beginning of the way, at the end of which you will find yourself completely carried away by love for Jesus, is a trusting love for Mary.»
Christ is Passing By, 143

What a wonderful thing it is to be a child! When a man asks a favor, his request must be backed by a list of his qualifications.
«When it is a child who asks – since children haven't any qualifications – it's enough for him to say: I'm a son of So-and-so.
Ah, Lord, – say it to him with all your heart! – I am a son of God!
The Way, 892