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The Humble Acceptance of Praise

Posted by Nathanael Szobody on

So great is the righteousness of that man who receives his virtues from the Spirit of God, that he loves his very enemies, and so loves them that he desires that his haters and detractors may be turned to righteousness, and become his associates, and that not in an earthly but in a heavenly country. But with respect to his praisers, though he sets little value on their praise, he does not set little value on their love; neither does he elude their praise, lest he should forfeit their love. And, therefore, he strives earnestly to have their praises directed to Him from whom every one receives whatever in him is truly praiseworthy.

— Augustine

To refuse praise out of a desire for humility is to deny the Christ in us. For if one praises out of love, then to receive it is humility and love toward the one who praises. It is the act of being the body to accept, both the virtues from God, and the praise of it that is to the glory of God.