Fausto Gomez OP
In our materialistic and competitive world, it appears that what matters is to be better than others: to be in the center of the photo or selfie, to be the first, to be – or be considered – number one. For many among us, what counts is “I”, “me”, and “mine”. Indeed, in our world, pride reigns!
The Greek word for pride (huperephania) literally means “showing oneself above.” In Christian perspective, pride is one of the seven capital sins, which are sins that are the head (capital: caput, head) of other sins. Following St. Gregory the Great, St Thomas Aquinas considers them not just sins but vices, or habitual inclinations to evil actions. Traditionally and popularly, the capital sins are seven. A basic evangelical text: All that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (I Jn 2:15). Lust of the flesh: gluttony and lust. Lust of the eyes: Avarice or greed. Pride of life: vainglory, spiritual laziness, envy and anger. Buddha speaks of five poisons of life: greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance and doubt.
The capital sins help each other to grow. The main allies of pride are hatred, envy and anger. Arrogance is also connected with presumption and ambition, hypocrisy and disobedience. In Christian tradition, pride is a more fundamental sin than the other capital sins, and thus is described as the queen, mother and principle of all other vices and sins.
Properly speaking, pride signifies a disordered desire for one’s own excellence, a willful and fervent desire or longing or hunger for personal glory and greatness. It is a disordered desire because it wants – openly or in a hidden way – not to be subject to God to whom all glory is due. Instead of giving due incense to God, the proud person gives incense to himself or herself. St. Paul says: “So…do everything for the glory of God” (2 Cor 10:31).
In her Dialogue, St. Catherine repeats that the source of all sins is self-love (amor propio), from which comes in the first-place pride. She adds: “Cut the horns of pride and you will also cut and extinguish hatred.” Luis de Granada writes: “self-love, which is the tree of death, is the first root of all our evils. From it comes the love of honor, love of wealth and love of pleasures.”
The worst kind of pride (in Catholic tradition, complete pride) is despising God and his commandments as opposed to personal excellence. A less grave (incomplete pride) is the kind that while respecting God and superiors, exalts oneself too much and places oneself above others. This a sort of the number one syndrome. It is, Pope Francis writes, “The logic of dominion and competition.” It implies – I suggest – a “holier and wiser than thou attitude” that makes people arrogant and wanting to lord it over others (cf. 1 Cor 4:18).
The Psalms speak often against pride: “A haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not tolerate” (Ps 101:5); “Arrogance is hateful to the Lord and to mortals” (Sir 10:7); “Pride is the beginning of all sins” (Sir 10:15).
Jesus tells us: “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Mt 5:3), that is, the humble. Pride is the cause of the sinful prayer of the Pharisee: “God, I thank you that I am not like other people …, [including] this tax collector,” who was then bowing before God and saying “God, be merciful to me a sinner” (Lk 18:11 and 13; cf. Parable of Pharisee and Tax Collector, Lk 18:9-14). St. Peter tells us: “God opposes the proud” (1 Pet 5:5).
Pride, or arrogance was the cause of man’s fall, and the fall and sin of the devil. It was the sin of the builders of the Tower of Babel. It is the sin of some modern scientists and transhumanists who think that man will one day be deus, god: we are going – they tell us proudly – from homo sapiens to homo deus. Even the lethal virus Covid-19 is proving them wrong: our human nature is essentially fragile and all we do is finite, imperfect. Nature is created, like us all, by God and humans cannot control it. Certainly, God is in charge – always -, and “hatred of God comes from pride” (CCC 2094). A Chinese saying goes, “When you see the water, remember the fountain.”
Selfishness is our number one evil – the fat ego.” Indeed, ‘to look out for number one’ inspires living selfishly” (Steve Wilkens, Beyond Bumper Sticker Ethics). I remember the text of a poster on the door of a lovely Franciscan church in Calbayog (Philippines): “The next time you feel perfect try walking on water.” Strong words by St. Augustine: “Regarding the minister who is proud, he has to be ranked with the devil.”
Do not compare yourself with others: “If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself” (Desiderata, Baltimore Cathedral, 1692).
How to fight the great sin of pride? By acquiring the corresponding contrary virtue. What is the main remedy to diminish pride in life? The fundamental virtue that grounds all virtues: humility. Vices are fought by acquiring the corresponding virtues: the seven capital sins are fought by acquiring the seven fundamental virtues that make a good Christian: the three theological and the four cardinal virtues. Only a virtuous life can make us happy – and happier.
Truly, “All pride is beggar’s pride” (M. Scheler); “We are God’s beggars” (St. Augustine). We are weak creatures and inclined to be proud. Hence, we ask the Lord to help us to be not proud or arrogant or holier and wiser than thou, but humble, respectful of all, and compassionate.
Words to ponder: “If in all things you seek Jesus, you will certainly find Jesus. But if you seek yourself, you will also find yourself, but to your own ruin” (The Imitation of Christ).
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