Q. In all this struggle for virtue, is there any one virtue that is like the most important? Why?
A. Yes. Humility. For several reasons.
First, its opposite - pride - is the most devilish of all vices. Satan was not thrown out of heaven for any other bad habit; he wasn't booted because of gluttony or laziness or anger or lust... He was kicked out because of pride: "I will not serve!" he said. If pride is the most devilish of all vices, then most likely humility is the most divine of all virtues.
Secondly, God is love. Love always tries to make the other happy even at the expense of self; i.e. love serves. It chooses what the beloved wills over what the self wills... It sings "Thy will be done." Pride's anthem is "MY will be done." In this regard, pride is at the heart of every sin for every sin says to God "My will be done."
Third, Christ himself is so exalted because he so humbled himself: "though he was in the form of God, he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name..."
This is true even of the saints (and it must be since every saint tries to become like Christ). Take Mary - Jesus' mum - for instance. Why is she the greatest of saints? Her answer? "Because God has looked on the humility (lowliness) of his maid-servant."
13th September 2015