Humility, The Hallmark Of Leadership In the CCR

One leadership trait that we often struggle to find is humility. Humility gets a bad rap in today’s society. The word itself sounds so much like humiliation. In a world that pays attention to the loudest, the biggest, and the most colorful, humility gets drowned out. It is regarded almost as antithetical to leadership.

Back in time in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, most people identified and assigned leadership roles considered themselves unworthy of the call and, in humility, yielded to the leading of the Holy Spirit that chose them. They never saw themselves as called because they were worthy of the role. Members of the CCR were obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit in their personal lives and opened themselves to the guidance of the leaders without question. Leaders and followers saw themselves as brethren of the same parents. Humility was the hallmark of the CCR.

It is worth restating that humility is key to effective leadership and a harmonious team. Look at the humble leadership of St. Francis of Assisi or Mother Teresa. When they heard God’s call, they responded with genuine humility. When people asked why God picked them, they replied that God had chosen the lowest and the weakest so that people would know that their achievements were possible only because of God. They wanted to make sure that it was God who got all the glory, not them. And many people were drawn to their work and their leadership because of their humility.

Ancient Greek philosophers said that humility is a meta-virtue; it is the foundation for other virtues, such as wisdom, compassion, courage, and forgiveness. Mother Teresa, whose life illustrated that principle, said, “Humility is the mother of all virtues: purity, charity, and obedience.”

Humility is essential if we want to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, our ultimate model of leadership. Christ humbly came down from heaven's kingdom to raise the lowly. As Jesus told his disciples: “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)

Some recent leadership research studies have found that leaders are more powerful when they are humble. St. Augustine once said that if we wish to rise, we must begin by descending: “You plan to build a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.” Humility allows leaders to squash their own ego so that they can focus on the needs of others.

Humility allows us to see what the proud have difficulty seeing, our own limitations and weaknesses. To gain the trust of followers, we must humbly accept that we have limitations and recognize that we need help, God's help, and the help of others. Humility is what will facilitate our growth and improvement and the realization that we are all in this together and that we must work together to accomplish the work before us.

Today in the CCR, people angle and position and lobby and campaign and pull others down to be elected or selected to “lead” in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. They explore and employ subtle ways and tricks to have their way. Some others constitute themselves into “kingmakers” in the selection and not election of persons to play leadership roles in the CCR. This sad development creeped into the CCRN over the past two decades and it has taken root. A very sad development. All members of the CCR must realize that the charismatic renewal is a movement of the Holy Spirit in the Catholic Church. Those who lower the guard and the flag are doing so at their peril.

I pray that our leaders lead with humility to lead us to our eternal destination, to holiness. As Pope Francis said: “Humility is the way to holiness.” Leadership must go through humility and with humility to lead all of us in our response to the call to holiness.